Long working days

Homeworkers more likely to do unpaid overtime and evening work

THE number of people working from home jumped in 2020, but for some it meant a rise in hours too. Over a third (36%) of employees in the UK did at least some work from home in 2020, latest figures by the Office for National Statistics show.

Before the pandemic in 2019, 27% of employees did at least some work from home.

However, a trade union said work/life balance has gone out of the window for many, and employees need the right to switch off.

For many, working from home means longer but more flexible working days. Homeworkers tend to start later and take more (and longer) breaks.

At the beginning of the pandemic, homeworkers kept their hours closer to typical office hours.

But since then, there has been a shift in their working day. In September 2020, homeworkers started their working day on average one hour later than those who never worked from home and their breaks were on average 20 minutes longer.

Their working day also ended later with a greater proportion of homeworkers working later in the evening in September 2020.

Between 6pm and 11pm, homeworkers were more likely to be working compared with those who worked away from home.

Not only did they work later, they also tended to work extra hours they were not getting paid for.

In 2020, employees working from home did on average 6 extra unpaid hours per week - compared to 3.6 hours by those who never worked from home.

Overall, employees working from home have worked more than those who went into their workplaces. While homeworkers worked on average 32 hours per week, those never working from home worked on average 28 hours per week in 2020.

David Arnold, head of policy at the trade union UNISON, said: "The pandemic's meant huge changes in the way many work. But not for everyone. Lots of employees - in the

NHS, social care, schools, transport, police, local services and supermarkets - have continued to go in to work throughout.

"Working from tiny flats or in house-shares struggling to find a space, competing with family or house-mates for the best wifi signal have been challenges.

"Before Covid, leaving the office signalled the end of the working day for most. But when work is a laptop on the kitchen table, a desk in the bedroom or coffee table in the lounge, it's harder to switch off.

"Work/life balance has gone out of the window for many. The working day's got longer, with many staff expected to be available around the clock. No wonder unions want to see the employment bill amended to give employees the right to switch off.

“An element of home working is almost certainly here to stay, with a mix of office and home the most likely. Negotiating these changes will be key for unions over the coming weeks and months. But improving the way the UK works must also embrace those who've never stopped going to their place of work."

Work from workplace

Any work from home % of employed population in each work from home status

Average hours per week, by work from home status of which unpaid