Working hours in the up again

Retailers working over 50 hours per week

May 2004

56% of retailers in the UK are working between 50 and 70 hours per week to keep their businesses going – that’s according to research from direct insurer PremierLine.

In a poll of over 1,400 small businesses across the country – PremierLine found that 38% of entrepreneurs in the retail sector notch up between 50 and 70 hours per week, with an astounding 18% putting in over 70 hours.

The findings come after the government released its figures showing that total working hours in Britain increased again for the first quarter of this year by 6.5million, with total working hours now standing at a staggering 900 million per week.

Barrie Wells, Chairman at PremierLine, warned, "Small business owners need to be aware of the implications of this sudden trend of long hours. Issues such as health and safety – in particular the hours put in by all staff – are high on the employment agenda."

"Over-working can have a knock on effect and employers need to think long term to prevent issues such as long-term illness or stress."

The survey also found that 40% of respondents working in the retail industry took less than 10 days annual leave, with 11% of those taking less than 5 days holiday a year.

Results also indicated that 26% of retailers considered their sales and profit as the aspect of running their own business that caused most stress compared to the survey average of 18%. A further 17% stated legislation as being their biggest concern.

Mr Wells concluded, "These figures demonstrate the pressure on small business owners and their increasing commitment to their businesses. What this adds up to is a very tough lot for the majority of small owner-managed businesses in this country. They are embattled by legislation, they suffer losses through crime and they don’t feel the Government is doing enough to remove red tape."