Never Really Off? Most Irish Employees Are Working Additional Hours from Home

If you get home after a long day in the office only to switch on your computer and send some more emails and file some more documents, you are not alone.  It seems the mythical 'work-life balance' continues to elude us, as a recent survey carried out on behalf of Pharmaton Active Life suggests that a whopping 72 per cent of Irish employees regularly work from home outside of office hours. The survey, which focused on energy levels and work/life habits, also showed that Irish women are busier than ever, working longer hours and expending an average of 15 per cent more energy than their male counterparts during a typical week. While 55% of survey respondents highlighted that they manage to keep on top of their busy schedules, 40% indicated that they feel totally stretched and would like to indulge in some time to themselves. Family and work responsibilities top the agenda for both Irish male and female professionals, but keeping fit emerged as the number one priority for those in need of more ‘me time’ with 45 per cent of respondents expressing their desire to exercise more. Highlighting the challenges of the Irish woman, the survey also found that a massive 70 per cent of female respondents felt they didn’t have enough time to keep fit and spend time with family and friends.