UK Workers feel pressure to succeed leads to unpaid íovertimeí

Latest statistics show UK employees work an average of 39 days overtime a year however, 92% of office workers acknowledge itís not due to workload, according to new research by Microsoft.

The research, which has been released to coincide with the launch of the 2007 Microsoft Office system, showed that the most common reasons given were finding it easier to get work done when the office is less busy (47.4%) and the desire to be successful (21%). These pressures mean the average working day is now 8.37am to 5.37pm not the traditional 9-5.

But instead of marching to the bossís office and demanding recognition for all that overtime, workers should accept that rather than beavering away solidly, much of the day is taken up by distractions. In fact, almost three hours a day are spent being ëunproductiveí.

Workers spend 54 minutes on the biggest distraction: surfing the internet

Formatting documents and sorting PC pickles cost the nation 46 minutes every day as we need to format documents or tackle the printer

35 minutes of the day are spent gossiping with co-workers

Office workers dedicate 17 minutes making sure their cup of Rosy Lee is brewed just right

Nature calls even the most dedicated worker and 14 minutes are spent in the loo

Staring out of the window rather than at the PC takes up 18 minutes

Anyone can take the test at www.thenew9to5.co.uk to discover whether they are an office grafter or an office waster. Plus, see how the 2007 Microsoft Office system helps office workers spend less time on IT and become more productive by downloading a free trial.

Professor Cary Cooper, Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at the University of Lancaster, and one of the leading thinkers in management sciences and occupational stress warns:

ìWorking longer hours can adversely affect your health, and interfere with your family life and private time, as well as undermining productivity. With so many distractions in the modern office it is not surprising that our minds wander, however we donít have to make drastic changes to enjoy a more efficient ñ and shorter ñ working day.

ìSpending time formatting a document or having to deal with day-to-day computer mishaps can easily disrupt your day and as the results of the survey show, end up costing you up to two hours. Taking time out in advance to learn a few helpful shortcuts can come in really useful ñ better to spend time learning some tips and tricks than waste hours battling your computer when you are on deadline.î

Darren Strange from Microsoft added: ìOffice distractions are part of working life but struggling with your computer really shouldnít cost you time. The new 2007 Microsoft Office system will help you get better results faster so you can get home that little bit earlier.î