Nov 22 2005
A survey of builders has revealed that two-thirds do not have enough time to pursue leisure interests or spend more time with their families because they are too busy working into the night and on weekends.
The results have been released by estimating software specialist EstimatorXpress following a survey which was conducted at Professional Builder’s very own Toolfair Exhibition, at Donnington Park and adds weight to the problematic issue that a vast number of people in the building industry are all too fully aware of - that too many builders work excessively long hours. That’s the view according to Joanna Mulgrew, marketing director of EstimatorXpress who believes that the issue of long hours needs addressing immediately.
Joanna said: "There’s always a lot of coverage about people in varying professions working too many hours in a week. This is no more evident than in the building industry and has just the same effect on home lives and individual stress levels as any other profession."
Current Government guidelines suggest that an individual should be limited to an average of 48 hours’ work a week, although workers can choose to work more if they want to.
Joanna adds: "Working long hours is also linked to an increase in accidents at work and is particularly important when working at heights or with potentially dangerous equipment."
The survey also revealed that over half of those builders surveyed said they found providing quotes and estimates to be the most time-consuming part of any project