Tradespeople including builders, plumbers and trades offering a plastering service are working longer hours and extra shifts because of the cost of living crisis, with almost a quarter (23%) saying they can’t afford to take any time off.
The new research by ElectricalDirect, a specialist retailer of electrical products, surveyed workers across the nation to reveal how many are at risk of burnout, and found that almost two in five (39%) have upped their hours in recent months.
A similar number (43%) now regularly work more than eight-hour days, nearly a fifth (18%) do more than five days a week, and over a quarter (26%) even work while feeling unwell.
Furthermore, tradespeople are taking very few days of annual leave, largely for financial reasons. On average, they take just 11 days off a year, but almost a third (32%) take less than a week of holiday every 12 months.
In fact, a staggering 92% take less than 28 days off a year, which is the statutory annual leave requirement.
Broken down by trade, roofers take the fewest days off, averaging just four days of leave a year. In contrast, painter and decorators take the most holiday, but still take less than two weeks off (12).
The trades which take the most and least annual leave are:
|
# |
Trade |
Mean |
|
1 |
Painter Decorator |
13 |
|
2 |
Landscaper |
12 |
|
3 |
Plumber |
12 |
|
4 |
Joiner |
12 |
|
5 |
Builder |
11 |
|
6 |
Electrician |
11 |
|
7 |
Caretaker/Maintenance |
11 |
|
8 |
Window Fabricator |
11 |
|
9 |
Locksmith |
11 |
|
10 |
Carpenter |
10 |
|
11 |
Building Surveyor |
9 |
|
12 |
Plasterer |
9 |
|
13 |
Bricklayer |
9 |
|
14 |
Scaffolder |
8 |
|
15 |
Roofer |
4 |
Self-employed tradespeople are the most overworked. They are considerably more likely than employed individuals to work long days (51% vs 40%), work while ill (34% vs 23%) and work at weekends (38% vs 18%). They are also nearly twice as likely to work over five days a week (27% vs 14%).
