In modern workplaces, the traditional 9-5 structure is apparently outdated, as more employers lean into hybrid work to ensure a stronger focus on work-life balance.
However, new research from StandOutCV suggests that working beyond regular hours is still the norm for most UK workers, with the average employee reportedly putting in more than £4,000 worth of overtime each year.
The culture change could be coming from bosses, as Startups’ research shows that a large majority of SME leaders believe working overtime is still a necessity.
Now, the StandOutCV findings could be a wake-up call for directors to reflect on whether they’re unintentionally promoting unhealthy work habits that contribute to burnout.
Brits are doing 218 hours of extra unpaid work
Despite growing conversations and acceptance of work-life balance and flexible working arrangements, many UK employees are still going above and beyond in their job roles — often without pay.
In its survey of 1,051 workers, StandOutCV reveals that a large number of employees are regularly working unpaid overtime — resulting in an average of 218 hours a year spent working overtime. This adds up to an average of £4,063.52 worth of unpaid work annually.
Moreover, it was found that 85.1% of workers completed tasks outside of their job description for free. Tech support was reported to be the most common task employees do outside their regular duties, with 66.4% taking on these extra responsibilities.
Unpaid overtime expected, despite high support in “switching off”
As part of the new Employment Rights Bill, the Labour Government introduced the “Right To Switch Off” last summer, giving employees legal rights to disconnect from work outside of hours and refuse to take on extra work on weekends.
But while the RTSO has since been scrapped from the Bill, our recent Workforce Report showed that bosses have conflicting attitudes towards the policy.
In our survey of 541 business leaders, 94% said they were in favour of staff disconnecting outside of working hours. However, working beyond contracted hours was considered to be acceptable by 39% of businesses. Just 11% believed it to be harmful to staff wellbeing.
The pressure to be productive
Ask any entrepreneur what their working hours look like, and the answer will often be non-stop — whether that’s due to wearing multiple hats, managing a small team, or self-imposed expectations in keeping the business afloat (or all of the above).
And it seems employees can relate to the latter, as StandOutCV’s findings cite an internal sense of responsibility (26.5%) as the main reason for working overtime. Unspoken company culture was also a major factor, with 25.8% of employees saying this had influenced their decision.
This can be linked to the normalisation of the hustle in startup culture, where long hours and constant availability are glorified and work-life balance is sacrificed to chase success.
But this success comes with a price, and both employees and business owners. According to statistics by Headspace, nearly half (47%) of workers and 66% of CEOs say the majority, or all, of their stress comes from work, rather than their personal lives.
This shows a clear need for founders to impose healthier workplace boundaries for both themselves and their employees.
With more workers rejecting hustle culture, not taking action could result in businesses losing top talent to bosses with more progressive attitudes to work boundaries.
Setting boundaries to avoid burnout
To build a happier workplace to improve employee engagement and push back against a ‘hustle-and-grind’ culture, founders should lead by example by setting clear expectations for both themselves and their team.
Establishing non-negotiable work hours — like ensuring evenings and weekends are off-limits — can help to build a culture that encourages taking breaks, disconnecting from work, and respecting personal time.
Additionally, using tools like project management software to keep things organised and avoid last-minute stress can also help keep everyone on track.
For scenarios where overtime is unavoidable, offering time off in lieu (TOIL) — where workers are given equivalent time off at a later date for the extra hours they’ve worked — can be a practical way to show employees that their time is valued.
In today’s economy, startups may think that excessive overtime is the only way to stay productive and competitive. But to avoid slipping into a toxic work culture, founders must take measures to maintain a workforce that’s both energised and supported.
