70% of Australians / Kiwi’s think about work while asleep

March 2007 – Do you work to live or do you live to work? Do you feel compelled to check your emails outside working hours? Do you think about work while you are sleeping? If you do you’re not alone as a research study of 770 Australian and New Zealand employees and employers conducted by MSI Legal & Accounting Network shows that there is a growing number of us who work too much. Many employees are feeling the pressure to put in the long hours at work while also feeling the pressure to be at home more with the family.

Some key highlights of the MSI Legal & Accounting Network research are as follows:-

Negatives:

• 70% of respondents stated that they think about work while they sleep – with employees finding it harder to leave their work behind than employers

• 48% of respondents stated that they feel compelled to check their emails, Blackberrys outside working hours

• More than 50% stated that they work on public holidays at least occasionally with 80% working at least occasionally on weekends

• 63% stated they believe working part time would, to some degree, damage their careers

• 58% eat lunch at their desks most days of the week and rarely get out of the office to meet friends or shop

• 67% believe their partners would like them to work less

• 68% of respondents believe staff shortages contribute to their large work load

• 32% of respondents feel that they have an excessive workload

Positives:

• 52% of respondents stated they are satisfied with their work-life balance, while 34% are dissatisfied – employees finding it harder to find time for themselves than employers

• While 51% of respondents are aware of their rights regarding flexible working arrangements. Only 26% have already asked, and 28% plan to ask, for flexible working arrangements.

• Respondents believe they would obtain a better work-life balance if they were offered the following:
• Fitness facilities or discounted rates for gym membership (54%);
• Reduced rates of other health services such as massage (64%);
• Flexible working hours (59%); and
• Increased government financial support (49%).

Organizational balance – a warning note

· 65% of respondents stated that their organisation does not conduct formal employee satisfaction surveys; and

· 55% of respondents note that their organisation does not discuss work-life balance issues with them.

MSI Legal & Accounting Network spokesperson Charles Hornor commented: “Much of what we found in our research study validates a gut feel that there is an imbalance between our working lives and our home lives. We’ve almost got used to checking our Blackberry emails before going to sleep and first thing in the morning – while dreaming about work in between. And while we all hear a lot from employers about offering flexible working arrangements, there is clearly a fear among employees that they will damage their careers if they do go part time.

“With the study showing less than one third of employers surveying their teams for opinions and satisfaction levels, the work-life balance issues are not being properly heard.”

Hornor went on: “Perhaps now is the time for organisations across Australia and New Zealand to review the changing workforce and gain themselves a competitive advantage – to find out what employees really want from their working lives and match up with what they offer.”

Click here to view the results for the 2007 MSI Worklife Balance survey.