Employees Work Longer Hours, Take Less Time Off Since Recession's Start, Study Says

No, it's not your imagination. You really have been spending more time at the office since the recession hit back in 2008.

At least that's the finding of a new survey of 300 businesses across the U.S. and Canada. Almost two-thirds of workers spend more time at work than three years ago, Lifeinc.Today.com found.

Given its reputation as a vacation-deprived country, it wasn't too surprising to learn Americans have been taking less time off. For instance, one in three companies said their employees have been using less of their holiday over the past three years, reports The Daily Mail.

"Employees generally don't mind doing more with less especially when economic conditions are tough," said Ryan Johnson, CCP, Vice President of Research for WorldatWork in a press statement. "But when this drags into multiple years, and they start to hear anecdotes of recovery, they become less understanding."

Still, employers aren't totally oblivious to the sacrifices they're demanding from workers. More than half of companies surveyed said they're concerned about the long-term effects of declining vacation days.

Though companies expressed concern about the extra hours, they aren't offering financial rewards for employees boost in work. According to a recent study, businesses expect only modest raises for 2012 despite an increase in profits per employee for the second year in a row. .

Comments

[pinknlynn]

05:32 PM on 10/12/2011

Yes, I'm working more and making less. However, I work beside union people whose wages haven't been affected.

[fortressfountain]

04:22 PM on 10/12/2011

Hum the companies saying they are concerned about the long hours of employment and lack of vacation time are like the same companies who work people in 100 degree temperatures without breaks who say "We have the health and safety of our employees in mind." Hehe.

[Progressive Badger]

03:16 PM on 10/12/2011

"More than half of companies surveyed said they're concerned about the long-term effects of declining vacation days" -- wow, it's not like they could change that - snark.

As someone that's now "expected" to cover 2 + heads worth of work, since one of my peers left, I can say, that I'm not really going to be able to do both roles.

Do employers really think they're getting top quality work, when everyone is overloaded? What they're getting is compliance, not enthusiasm, and it shows in what gets done.

[oski the bear]

01:31 PM on 10/12/2011

Definitely true for me, and a lot of factors go into it. We're doing more with less, so that does mean heavier workload. We also had a particular issue hit, not recession-related, that affects workload.

Fortunately, I do feel rewarded in my job. I feel that there's an element of choice in the hours that I'm working, and I feel that my management recognizes that and rewards it. I was given a generous raise for my work this year, and there's been indication that I'll get one next year as well. I also feel like my work makes a difference, so that feels good.

And my hours have been heavy, but not nightmarish. I'm probably working a little under 50 hours per week, and I do spend some time socializing in the office. I've taken less vacation time--it'll probably end up around 2 weeks or a little less by the time the year's out--but I've been paid for vacation time that I didn't use.

So overall, I'm part of this demographic, but I feel privileged/fortunate amidst it all. I do look forward to the workload calming a bit in the next year, hopefully, though.

[mfitz11]

01:41 PM on 10/12/2011

Sounds like you are one of the rare ones who has a good place to work.
With most companies it's - work the 55 hours per week with no overtime or we'll find someone that will or, "sorry, no raises this year due to the economy."
I honestly think that many companies and employees are using the economy to make excuses for running sweatshops full of underpaid employees right here in America.

[brutalefrank]

11:59 AM on 10/12/2011

How do companies get around the 40 hour workweek rule? Make people salaried employees.

[mdsman]

12:13 PM on 10/12/2011

they either exempt roles or they pay overtime
my industry averages around 50-55 hours a week
has for the last 20 years
That is why they are paid and bonused well

[El Chingaso]

12:37 PM on 10/12/2011

It's okay. 40 hours per week is some fantasyland invention...from a long time ago. Most Americans problems are rooted in the fact they can't fathom working more than 12 hours per day, 7 days per week -- like most business owners do who aren't broke and deep into debt.

[mfitz11]

12:43 PM on 10/12/2011

I worked for three years in Australia.
I worked 40 hours or less per week, got 24 paid vacation days, and here's the real kicker, I was paid more than I am now for the exact same job.
Oh, and another kicker, I paid less in taxes in Australia while getting free healthcare.
Now that I am back in America I am getting paid less, have 10 paid vacation days, working 55 hours per week and paying more in taxes.
Hmm, could something be wrong with our system here in America??

[olddognewtrick]

11:17 AM on 10/12/2011

Probably better than sleeping on the sidewalk...

[pinknlynn]

05:35 PM on 10/12/2011

Well, if you put it that way...... But, do we live in a third world country where we have no rights?

[Billy Jack]

10:55 AM on 10/12/2011

Corporations love high unemployement. They use it as an excuse for making employees work longer and harder, while paying them less

[Bill Duckworth]

10:36 AM on 10/12/2011

Does anything change?

The average money wage rose from $204 in 1850 to $507 in 1910. The average purchasing power of the money wage rose from $147 in 1850 to $401 in 1910. The rise in money wage has been unchecked. The increase in purchasing power has declined since 1900

-Published 1916 NY Times

[Bill Duckworth]

10:04 AM on 10/12/2011

By far the major loss of jobs in the USA is from Monopoly Acquisitions and Mergers. 100% of whole departements are laid off of the Purchased Company.

Profits are doubled with all the Purchase Company Bank Accounts, Cell Phone Accounts, Insurance Policies, etc.

So twice the accounts mean more work for the existing departments. Lost Jobs for the other companies employees and MORE WORK for the Purchasing Companies employees and no higher wages for more work.

G. D. A. and the TV New for not even acknowleding the Service High Paying Job Losses.

Just like they do with all the American's who get 2 year IT certificates losing new jobs to East Indians who not only cannot speak English, they don't do anything unless told to do it. Imagine an American Worker sitting around to be told what to do? And keep their job, while East Indians are guaranteed 3 years of work you the customer pays it anyway

[JustinP213]

11:27 AM on 10/12/2011

Very good point, Bill. While outsourcing, immigration, automation and increased technology are generally the main four reasons cited for American job losses, mergers should definitely be the fifth thing on the list. In almost every merger/acquisition that I've read about, the surviving company seems to almost boast about how many jobs they are going to eliminate.

[american-dolt]

09:42 AM on 10/12/2011

We are Slaves. We are supposed to wear a smile into our Giant Corporations who don't give raises and cut benefits because they don't care if you quit, they welcome it.

[Bill Duckworth]

10:42 AM on 10/12/2011

Amazing what the Trading of Ownership YIELDS today in the Secondary Stock Markets (NYSE and ASE) with no initial INVESTMENT to Main Street or JOB CREATION. And of course 60% of all AFTER TAX Profit going to these NON-Investors for the contribution of Trading Stock Ownership at 15% tax rate from the 100% FRUIT of LABOR for all of the design, assembly and service at a tax rate of at least 15% and more

And if the workers investment in savings accounts they get 1.4% and are taxed at their current rate of income tax. Losing compensation for 100% of the work, Taxed More and Get nothing for their penny Investment in the Economy

[Billy Jack]

10:56 AM on 10/12/2011

15 years ago I told my boss to go F himself and started my own business

[mdsman]

12:14 PM on 10/12/2011

I do envy you that....tough choice and takes a lot of courage
glad it worked for you

[El Chingaso]

12:41 PM on 10/12/2011

Billy Jack, I did the same thing...and I'm not counting on the government to "give me a job" to support forty hours per week, while I spend the rest of my time pulling the pud in front of a flat-screen and eating the worst delivery pizza of all time.

Americans need to work a minimum of 70 hours per week, if not 80 hours per week...just to remain ahead of the inflationary policies of the Fed.

Heed the warning of truth.

[StAlphonso]

08:46 AM on 10/12/2011

When you've lost your home, where else are you going to stay?

[mfitz11]

08:43 AM on 10/12/2011

America is the workaholic, no vacation nation.
I worked in Australia for some time before coming back to America a few years ago, and I can tell you that the working lifestyle is far better there.
A work day is a work day - 9 - 5:30. I got more than four weeks of vacation time, aaaand, here's the real kicker, I was PAID MORE than I am being paid here in America for the same job.
I was relaxed while working there, I think my productivity was better while at work and I had a life outside of work.
Now back in America, I feel tired, stressed and have very little time with my family.
Forget just how stressful it is living in America until I returned.

[Bill Duckworth]

10:46 AM on 10/12/2011

The supply side economic of "blood diamond" supply and Capital control. Raising Prices without Demand by cutting supply, Lowering Wages by cutting jobs and more wage competition

Capital with an unfair advantage to Labor. WHY

[andwhatarmy]

08:16 AM on 10/12/2011

The answer: Unions. If the destruction of the unions, begun in earnest under Reagan, hadn't succeeded so well, management would have been forced to leave enough capital in the business to carry it through recessions, and the slavery demanded of the workforce might have been kept at least partially in check. But now that the nation has swallowed the Moron Pill developed by Bush, and has concluded that anything that isn't rampant capitalism (can you say survival of the richest?) is the Horror of Socialism, there is little hope.

Having decamped to Europe, I can honestly and with some degree of personal experience, note that while the economic situation is not good, it is nowhere near as bad as in the US, and people still get--and take--their holidays. Many have cut back where they travel; for example, no one is going from here to Florida these days, but perhaps camping a couple of hours from home on the seashore. But they fully understand that respite is required for continued health--mental, physical, emotional and financial.

Sadly, the new slaves in America just don't get it. The slave owners do, though. I should think a nationwide two-week walkout would get their attention.

[TheTRUTHbyGod]

08:09 AM on 10/12/2011

The boss's bonus depends on figuring out how to get your job off-shored to a slave state like China or India. If you're not in a cold sweat 24/7 providing shareholder value like pre-suicide Foxconn employees, there's more chance you'll end up frozen to a sidewalk this winter.

Who isn't displaying total, relentless life destroying dedication to work these days?

Is this supposed to be news?

[CabCurious]

08:01 AM on 10/12/2011

We have high productivity and hyper-intensive work ethics.

The downside are the health and social costs, which are hard to pin down.

[mfitz11]

09:00 AM on 10/12/2011

I doubt these are hard to pin down. How healthy is a 45-year-old man working 60 hours per week going to be?
How much time is a man working 60 hours per week and on his blackberry on the weekends going to spend with his kids?
Now, factor in the wife working 60 hours per week as well, because lets face it, in the new America both husband and wife need to work in order to make ends meet - now you have both parents working 60 hours per week and on Blackberries while at home.
Just imagine what that does to the life of their kids.
I don't think it's difficult to measure the health and social impacts at all.