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Question: Does Britain's long-hours culture ultimately harm business rather than help it?
26/ 8/2008
Does Britain's long-hours culture ultimately harm business rather than help it?
Mark Leach, employment partner at law firm Weightmans
YES.
If it means working longer and not working smarter. Employers should focus on quality production in efficient time and not on ‘presenteeism’. The rewards of greater efficiency should be shared with employees at all levels, including employees who work long hours for low pay. No employees should have to work long hours to achieve a living wage.
Kay Waddington, partner at Manchester law firm Stephensons Solicitors
YES UK workers already have one of the longest working weeks in Europe and. ultimately, their health and productivity, and that of the business they work for, will decline if it is not kept under control. Unfortunately, it seems the current uncertainty of the economic climate is forcing employers to consolidate staff levels rather than recruit, therefore putting increased pressure on existing employees. I agree workers should be free to go above and beyond the call of duty when required, but sustained periods of excessive working hours have been proven to contribute to increased stress and lower productivity, both of which can lead to prolonged periods of absenteeism. In 2007 alone, sick days are said to have cost the UK economy £13.2bn. Employees who are tired and stressed are more likely to make mistakes or even hurt themselves in the workplace. People are often said to be the most valued asset of a business, but unless they are given the right work-life balance, their greatest asset could turn out to be their biggest downfall.
Mike Guttridge, business psychologist
YES There's no doubt that the long-hours culture is only a short-term fix. Anyone with experience of managing people in manufacturing or similar production activities will know that people pace themselves if they know they are going to be working long hours, and so are not as productive as they might be. A 12-hour day doesn't mean 12 hours of effective output.There is also good evidence, over almost a century, that working longer than 50 hours a week means more accidents and more errors. And,from a health point of view, and leaving aside any reference to stress, working over 50 hours a week, especially if you are a man, is linked to an increase in heart disease and related illnesses.So being macho about working long hours is not good for people and ultimately not good for business.
Mark Rawstron, director, GVA Grimley, Manchester
NO I believe we do have to work harder and longer to be competitive in a global market place, especially as many other countries now have a far more advantageous business environment within which to operate after years of inappropriate regulation and intervention by UK politicians. However, I would like to replace the words harder and longer with one word – smarter. Current and developing technology enables us to communicate with the world without the need to be in one place any more, so by working smarter we may even provide some balance to the work-life equation.
Mike Redshaw of north west commercial property firm Nolan Redshaw
NO At certain times, it not only helps business but is an absolute necessity to achieve the particular aim of a project. It should not be the norm, but government red tape and bureaucracy, certainly in the property industry, only adds to the problem by swamping business with additional, totally unproductive and superfluous paperwork. Property advisors like ourselves, have to deliver the goods.
Nigel Crebbin, partner and head of employment at Stockport law firm Gorvins
NO Existing legislation provides for a 48-hour maximum average working week. This protects those who don't want to work longer hours while allowing those who do to opt out of that maximum. Long hours obviously can take their toll, but there has to be an element of personal choice. If someone feels that there are sacrifices they are willing to make in order to achieve certain benefits, then we need to be wary of restricting their right to make that decision.
Naeema Choudry, employment partner at the Manchester office of law firm Eversheds
YES The UK's long-hours culture undoubtedly does more harm than good to business. Compared to the rest of northern Europe, the UK has the longest working hours, yet the lowest productivity. This clearly shows that putting in long hours can be counterproductive and that there is a business case for the argument that a well rested employee will be more productive and less likely to take time off for sickness. Evidence from the latest absence survey shows the average employee took almost seven days off sick last year, costing the UK economy a huge £13.2 billion. Pushing staff to their limits can also cost business more than just salary or sick pay. An overworked workforce is likely to be unmotivated, which affects staff retention and recruiting new staff can be difficult if a company has a poor reputation for a long-hours culture. By ensuring employees have a better work-life balance, businesses will have a happier, loyal and more productive workforce.
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