Home-workers ‘are putting in an extra week’s work every month’

PEOPLE working from home due to the coronavirus are clocking up an additional 38 hours of labour a month – equivalent to an additional working week – a major survey reveals today.

And although nearly half of older workers miss colleagues and one in five feel lonely and isolated, as many as 51pc of employees overall would like flexible hours and the option to continue to work from home post-lockdown.

The findings have emerged in a survey of 2,000 workers commissioned by LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network.

It found a third of women are exercising more and nearly half are spending more time with family.

Post-lockdown, workers intend to be kinder to colleagues, the survey says.

But four in 10 worry about being made redundant after lockdown is lifted.

Lisa Finnegan, senior HR director at LinkedIn, said the additional working week is linked to people’s need to feel relevant.

“People are logging on earlier and finishing later on in the day,” she said.

“And we’re feeling a need to appear present – a quarter of those surveyed feel pressured to respond more quickly and be visible online for longer than they normally would.

“It is imperative that employers consider the emotional impact of working from home on their employees, and that they help people take more control over their working life during this time of uncertainty.”

The findings revealed many are struggling to switch off at the end of the day.

People are concerned to prove they deserve to keep their jobs and 12pc are worried they will be judged as having performed poorly during lockdown.

Men are finding it toughest and 61pc are experiencing stress and anxiety, compared with 54pc of women.

Younger workers are also feeling the strain more, with more than 70pc of the under24s saying they experienced stress due to working from home.

More than 63pc of 25-34-yearolds had feelings of stress, compared with 41pc of 45-54-year-olds and 34pc of those aged over 55.

Working from home has also resulted in 46pc of over-55year-olds saying they missed interacting with their colleagues, compared with only 24pc of under-24-year-olds.

One-fifth described themselves as feeling lonely.

More than a third said being at home affected their ability to focus and 27pc admit they are easily distracted.