Devoted employees can't leave work

27/08/2008

British workers are unable to leave work at the office, believing they should be reachable by work whenever and wherever they are, according to a new survey.

The poll, conducted by 3 Business, revealed 30% of workers believe it is essential to be reachable at all times.

Nearly a quarter of workers have answered calls or sent emails while at the pub, a quarter have worked while on public transport, and one in ten have made work calls from the doctor’s surgery.

The survey revealed 7%, or 4 million people in the UK, have interrupted a date to take a work phone call.

According to Renato Bottini, head of 3 Business, being contactable at all times is “especially important for small businesses, which are juggling a million and one things at the same time and need to feel in control by answering emails and phone calls on the move.”

The survey raises further concerns over an unhealthy work-life balance for both Britain’s business owners and employees.

A poll conducted for Bank of Scotland Business Banking revealed the average working week for British entrepreneurs has reached 50 hours, with 15 days being the average time taken as holiday.