UK workers ‘spend 75% of time’ behind desks

11/08/2008

The UK is still a nation of workaholics, a report has confirmed, with the average worker spending the equivalent of 34 weeks a year behind their desks.

The research, by printing company Canon, found that the average worker spends five and a half hours a day behind their desk, while two thirds of office workers regularly stay outside their contracted hours.

A fifth of the survey’s respondents said they don’t consider their health when they’re in the office despite spending the majority of their time there, while 25% said they ‘find it hard’ to eat healthily during office hours. In fact, less than 20% said they use the tea run as an opportunity to take a break from their desks.

The organisation said it was up to bosses to encourage employees to stay active during the day. “Over the last few decades there has been a significant increase in computer work and desk-related tasks where most people are required to sit for long periods of time while working,” said Clare Luther, an occupational therapist who specialises in back pain, posture education and ergonomics.

“The impact that this activity has on employees’ health is multi-factorial – physically and psychologically. In addition, there’s a financial cost of time lost at work due to poor workstation layout and poor posture.”