Long hours on the increase for UK workers
June 1st 2008 An extra 180,000 people across the UK are working more than 48 hours a week in 2008, according to a TUC analysis of official statistics.
The analysis, included in the new TUC report The Return of the Long Hours Culture has found that the number of people working long hours has increased at a faster rate over the last year than the decline in excessive working between 1998 and 2006.
The TUC report argues that the recent increase in the number of people working long hours is due to the challenging economic climate, which has made employers more reluctant to recruit new staff and instead work existing employees harder.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “After slow but steady progress over the last decade, long hours working is making its way back into Britain's workplaces. Employees across the UK already work the longest hours in Western Europe and the recent increase will mean lower productivity, more stress and less time to have a life outside the office.”
The TUC expressed disappointment when the UK won a continued opt-out of The Working Time Directive, at an EU Social Affairs Council meeting earlier this month. Business Secretary John Hutton said giving workers this right, "Provides a fair deal for workers without damaging Britain's economic competitiveness or putting jobs at risk.” More articles from TUC: | 
