Study suggests UK employees 'work longest hours in EU'

17 Apr 2019

A study carried out by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has suggested that UK employees 'work the longest hours in the EU'.

According to the study, full-time employees in the UK worked an average of 42 hours per week in 2018. Employees in countries such as Ireland, Italy, France and Belgium worked an average of 39 hours a week, the study revealed.

The TUC also suggested that employees in other EU countries are 'more productive' than UK workers, despite EU employees working fewer hours.

Commenting on the study, Frances O'Grady, General Secretary of the TUC, said: 'Britain's long hours culture is nothing to be proud of. It's robbing workers of a decent home life and time with their loved ones. Overwork, stress and exhaustion have become the new normal.

'Other countries have shown that reducing working hours isn't only good for workers, it can boost productivity.

'As new technology changes our economy, the benefits should be shared by working people. That means shorter hours, more time with family and friends, and decent pay for everyone.'