Demands of job extends traditional working day, research reveals
More than three quarters of HR professionals spend three and a half hours a week completing work related tasks while travelling to and from the office, according to research from recruitment specialists Ortus HR.
Of those working on their commute, 63 per cent felt pressured to do so, while more than a fifth (21 per cent) felt they could not keep up with the demands of the job without the extra work.
The survey of 164 HR professionals revealed that the majority of employers were aware that the additional work was taking place, and yet 78 per cent of workers are not rewarded for the extra hours.
Commenting on the report, Simon Bassett, managing director at Ortus HR, said: “Our research highlights the irony that the vast majority of HR professionals, who are entrusted with safeguarding employee rights, are working the equivalent of four additional weeks every single year on their commute – and for nothing more than a sense of keeping their daily workload in check.
“As most employers are aware of this activity but do not reward it, we must ask whether the digital age has led to a more blasé attitude about additional work. Just because it isn’t in the office doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable,” he said.
Ortus HR suggested that with the advance in technology, the boundaries of the traditional working day have been blurred and working outside of office hours has become the norm. In fact employers now expect it of their staff, the firm said.
“Smart technology and the widespread availability of Wi-Fi means that the UK’s workforce is now a mobile one whose ability to work is far less restricted by geography and contracted hours of work. This is good news for those who need the flexibility to work remotely, but has also led to an extension of the working day,” Bassett said.
According to the latest census data, the average UK commute is 54 minutes, which is compared to an average of 40 minutes across the world, and those who take public transport to work have higher levels of well-being than those who drive in.
But if most HR professionals are using their commuting time to put in additional hours, commuters do not get a chance to relax, Ortus HR said.
“Those who work while they travel may feel that a few minutes here and there is part and parcel of the role and will pay off in terms of long term career progression. Even so, we are still talking significant numbers when this time adds up to 168 hours of extra work every year that by and large aren’t paid for, at an unpaid value of £2,189 each.
“The research raises important questions about whether this work is in fact necessary, whether it should be limited to ensure employee well-being and if it ought to be rewarded – and how,” he added.