RSS feedsA report by financial recruitment company Robert Half, Working Hours: A global comparison, compared the working practices of finance professionals in 17 countries, including the amount of work they do on holiday, evenings and weekends.
On average, UK finance professionals work 42.1 hours a week – with the global average being 42.4 hours. This is despite more than half (53%) claiming that they have been putting in more hours than at any time over the past two years.
Globally, more than one-third (38%) take either their laptop or PDA with them on holiday, with 14% saying they cannot relax unless they are in touch with the office. This compares to 31% and 11% respectively in the UK. A similar number (34%) also work in the evenings with 37% either taking calls or responding to emails.
“The impact of wireless technology means work is no longer restricted to the office,” claims the report. “Laptops, BlackBerries and other mobile electronic devices make access to the office just an arm’s length away.”
Finance professionals in Luxembourg (47.6 hours) and Japan (47.1 hours) work the longest weeks, with Switzerland enjoying an almost part-time working week of 36.4 hours.
“In many industries, financial employees must look beyond international time zones and work whenever they are needed to accommodate operating hours in foreign markets,” the report authors conclude.
