Posted inCulture & SocietyCulture & SocietyGCCIndustriesMiddle East

11% of Gulf workers work over 11 hours a day – survey

HR experts Regus reveals work patterns of employees in region as part of global poll

Economic pressures have ramped up working hours, the report said
Economic pressures have ramped up working hours, the report said

More than one in 10 workers in the Gulf region work more than 11 hours a day, according to a new global survey published by HR experts Regus.

The survey of 12,000 business people in 85 countries also revealed that 30 percent of workers in the region work between nine and 11 hours daily, compared to a global average of 38 percent.

The Regus study also said more than 40 percent of workers in the Gulf work well over eight hours a day and over 30 percent regularly take work home to finish in the evening.

It said pressure on working hours has increased in recent years because of slow economic recovery in mature economies and, conversely, very rapid growth in emerging ones.

Globally, only five percent of women work 60 hour weeks compared to more than twice that (12 percent) for men, according to Regus.

They are also less likely (32 percent) to take work home to complete more than three times a week, than men (48 percent).

A Regus spokesperson said: “This study finds a clear blurring of the line between work and home. The long-term effects of this over-work could be damaging both to workers’ health and to overall productivity as workers drive themselves too hard and become disaffected, depressed or even physically ill.”

The spokesperson added: “While our survey found remote and mobile workers generally worked longer hours, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that remote workers are more productive, have a higher job satisfaction and lower stress levels.

“These workers typically spend far less time commuting, freeing-up more time for their job.”

Follow us on

For all the latest business news from the UAE and Gulf countries, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.