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Flexible Workers Vote With Their Feet Against 48-Hour Directive: Survey Finds 30 Per Cent Choose to Work More Than 50 Hours a Week

Poll discovers its how they work, not how many hours, thats most important to the flexible working community

20 June 2008  Flexible workers are choosing not to cap their own working week and are happy to work beyond 48 hours, according to a new survey from Workology, an online community that supports flexible workers, freelancers, portfolio workers, and self-employed professionals. The Attitudes to Work poll, which questioned 1,000 flexible workers, found that nearly one-third (30 per cent) work more than 50 hours per week, while 32 per cent work between 41 and 50 hours.

Last week, Britain secured the permanent right to opt out from the EUs mandatory 48-hour working week. The directive is designed to protect workers from being forced or feeling obliged to work in excess of 48 hours per week.

The results of the Workology survey, however, show these good intentions may be misplaced. For flexible workers, its not the number of hours they put in that determine a happy work-life balance, its the way in which they work. According to the survey, 43 per cent claim that flexible working has improved the quality of their life a lot, while 32 per cent claim it has improved enormously. Just four per cent believe that they have not seen an improvement since opting out of the office-based 9-5 work environment.

When it comes to how opting out of the traditional full-time week has helped improve their quality of life, the most common answer cited (49 per cent) is being able to control when and where I work. Second was escaping the rat race (35 per cent), while more time to pursue own interests (30 per cent) came third. Having more time to spend with family and cheaper childcare costs trailed in fourth and sixth place respectively.

In fact, this ability to take control of how they work is so important to flexible workers that the majority couldnt be tempted back to the rigid 9-5 structure, even for an enormous pay hike. The poll found that 41 per cent of flexible workers would forgo a 100 per cent pay rise if it meant giving up control of the way they work. When the incentive was lowered to a 50 per cent pay increase, nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) claimed that they would prefer to keep control of their work arrangements.

Emily Stokes Hotchkiss, a life coach and expert on the psychology of flexible working, comments: "The findings reflect what Im witnessing as a life coach. Theres a definite sense that for those that took part in the survey, and for those that I work with on a regular basis, its all about being able to taking control of how they work and creating a working pattern that suits them.

Even though for many flexible workers their hours are long  nearly a third work in excess of 50 hours  clearly the fact that they control when, where and how they work makes it all worthwhile. Evidently, far more worthwhile than a bulging pay cheque at the end of the month.

Sam Gyimah, Managing Director, Workology, comments: The poll shows that the UKs flexible workers are anything but work shy. They dont mind putting in the hours, as long as they can offset their long days with comfortable working arrangements. Workology polled 1000 flexible workers in June 2008. For more information on Workology, visit www.workology.com.

History of work Workology has produced a timeline of the milestones that have affected the way we work, from the industrial revolution to the present day. This is available upon request from malini.majithia@carrotcomms.co.uk.

About Workology Workology is an online community that helps people take control of the way they work. It brings together flexible working professionals, organisations and businesses and lets them share expertise, knowledge and work opportunities.

Workology launched in March 2008. It is in beta, and already has 2000 members  a figure that is growing by around 100 per cent month on month. Many, but not all, of these users come from the creative industries  the early adopters of flexible working.

Members of the site can: promote their own services for free by creating their own mini-website within Workology; build a referral network; share business experiences and advice within the community; and post and reply to job opportunities on the site. They can also post questions, ask for advice or engage in discussions on any work-related issues. There are excellent networking opportunities on Workology, allowing members to get referrals and support from its diverse community of individuals, organisations and businesses, who all share a similar approach to work.

If you would like further information, or to speak to Sam Gyimah, Workology, life coach Emily Stokes, or members of the site for case studies please call Kate Hartley or Malini Majithia on 020 7386 4860 / email kate.hartley@carrotcomms.co.uk.

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