Quarter of SME owners putting in over 50 hours a week

More than one in four SME owners are working more than 50 hours a week with significant numbers putting in 60 hours a week or more, according to a study by MetLife Employee Benefits.

More than one in four SME owners are working more than 50 hours a week with significant numbers putting in 60 hours a week or more, according to a study by MetLife Employee Benefits.

The survey shows the average hours worked a week by SME owners is a standard 37 and a half hours. However, 28% estimate they work 50 hours or more with 15% saying they put in 60 hours a week including working at weekends.

On average SME owners estimate they take around 3.7 days off a year which is below the national average of 4.4 days recorded by Government statistics. The survey also shows nearly two out of three SME owners say they have not taken a day off ill in the past year while only seven per cent have taken longer than three working weeks off through illness.

Tom Gaynor, Employee Benefits Director of MetLife UK said: “SME owners put in long hours to ensure their businesses are a success and many clearly feel they cannot afford to take time off or to cut back on their working hours without causing disruption to their firm.

“Working long hours can, however, in the long run lead to health issues and it makes sense to prevent absences before they become a major problem through improving health and wellness.”

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