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[forum admin]

New research has suggested that many workers are completing up to 40 minutes of homework at night time, because they have too much work to get done in the working day.

The study of 3,000 workers, carried out by Reed Specialist Recruitment, also found that one in four employees is at their desk by 7.30a.m. and doesn't get away until at least 6p.m., with 40% not even leaving their desks at lunchtime to get a proper break – the average break lasting just 33 minutes.

Almost half (48%) say they “can’t live without” email, with the majority citing it as “the biggest transformation in the world of work during the last 50 years” – putting it above equality laws and the advent of mobile phones.

The research found that half of the UK's workforce (48%) wants to spend more time working from home and four in ten (43%) are keen to give up the traditional ‘nine to five’ in favour of less rigid working patterns, but more than a quarter (27%) say they couldn’t face working without office banter.

Tom Lovell, Group Managing Director of Reed Specialist, said:

“The workplace has come a long way in the last 50 years.

“Advances in technology have led to significant changes in working life, enabling people to have more control over the shape of their careers and ending more traditional, restrictive approaches to working arrangements. While many would love to be able to work from home, there remains a significant proportion that prefers the social interaction gained from an office environment. The key is that today’s workforce wants the flexibility to choose the working environment that best suits their lifestyle and aspirations. Employers also really need to understand applicants’ motivations so that they can achieve cultural as well as skills fit when recruiting the best people.”

[Jasper9]

The study of 3,000 workers, carried out by Reed Specialist Recruitment, also found that one in four employees is at their desk by 7.30a.m. and doesn't get away until at least 6p.m., with 40% not even leaving their desks at lunchtime to get a proper break – the average break lasting just 33 minutes.

Almost half (48%) say they can't live without email, with the majority citing it as the biggest transformation in the world of work during the last 50 years – putting it above equality laws and the advent of mobile phones.

The research found that half of the UK's workforce (48%) wants to spend more time working from home and four in ten (43%) are keen to give up the traditional ‘nine to five’ in favour of less rigid working patterns, but more than a quarter (27%) say they couldn’t face working without office banter.

When  I had a job I started work at 7am and seldom left for home until 5.30-6pm.  On top of that I did 3 hours driving a day.  I hardly ever took a lunch break, eating something at my desk and carrying on working.   What was it for  nothing!  Not appreciated at all.  I was the best at what I did, and went home satisfied I had earned my money.


I agree e mail is the best thing but can waste a lot of your working day. In addition, I would never miss the "office banter".  I can get much more done in much less time working from home, yet felt guilty when I stopped at 3pm, even though I had done 8 hours solid.  I would never take work home to do of an evening.