Brits are a nation of workaholics, new research has revealed.
Whether emailing before they get up, working into their lunch break or taking calls after 10pm, more than half of workers admit they simply cannot escape work.
Nearly half of Brits said they worry about work in their spare time, while two thirds work at times when they feel they shouldn’t have to.
In fact, the study of 2,000 people found that the average Brit spends 1 hour 13 minutes working outside of their contracted hours every single day.
A quarter of Brits go above and beyond because they are plagued with fears of redundancy, while 36 per cent constantly have an eye on targets they know they have to reach.
And the work-life divide is increasingly blurred for many – 60 per cent talk about work regularly when at home while one in three has worked on a weekend despite not being required to.
The research, which was commissioned by Avery Office & Consumer Products to support the launch of their year-long Avery Rewards promotion, found that despite Brits clocking off at 17.30pm on average, they don’t feel they’ve officially switched off until 18.52pm.
In fact, a third of Brits have obsessed so much about work that their friends or family have criticised them for it.
Gregg Corbett, Marketing Director at Avery said: “What these results show is that the average person is finding it increasingly hard to get the right work life balance. Clearly a little escapism from work is both needed and deserved.
“With advances in mobile and wireless technology, we’re able to work almost anywhere and at any time - but just because we have the capability to work at any hour of the day, that doesn’t mean we should.
“Britain’s busy workers really need to remember to treat themselves to a little ‘me time’ in order achieve a better balance.”
Indeed, more than a tenth of Brits feel they have to be constantly available to their boss.
18 per cent of Brits say work is often their first waking thought, while a fifth check their email before getting out of bed.
More than one in ten can be found texting and emailing before 8am, while 26 per cent have skipped breakfast to get to work early and over half regularly works into their lunch break.
And respite isn’t easily gained away from the office – nearly half of workers find it hard not to think about work in their spare time while over a quarter have drawn up a work to-do list or presentation while at home.
A tenth of Brits have been on a work call after 10pm and even more have sent or received emails late into the night.
Brits can’t even retreat to their bed in peace with three in ten taking work calls between the sheets – 14 per cent say work is often the final thing on their mind before bed while many have had a restless night worrying about work.
And it’s not always sweet dreams for devout workers – exactly half of the study said they have dreamt about work issues before.
Avery’s Gregg Corbett continued: “We see so much about unemployment, redundancy and the difficulty in earning a living in the current climate.
“Although it’s honourable that Brits are working harder than ever, it’s crucial we don’t forget to take time to ourselves.
“The Avery Rewards promotion is designed to remind busy workers that they deserve time to escape. Whether it’s a Red Letter experience, a new outfit from New Look, the latest music and film releases from HMV or a treat from Boots or Marks & Spencer – we’re rewarding hard working employees with instantly redeemable vouchers every time they choose Avery.”
If it’s time you treated yourself to a little escapism log on www.averyrewards.co.uk to find out more.
