More than half of UK employees work outside normal hours every day, report finds

More than half of UK employees work outside their normal hours every day, according to research from MyPerfectCV.

The ‘Always-On Workforce Report 2026’ found 55% of employees work outside normal hours daily, while 93% said they do so at least occasionally.

The research also found 91% had worked while sick instead of taking time off.

Despite 88% of respondents saying their employer respects their right to disconnect, the report found 92% struggle to switch off mentally from work during their time off.

Heavy workload was identified as the biggest barrier to disconnecting, cited by 50% of respondents, followed by management expectations (44%), lack of cover (25%) and fear of missing out (24%).

The survey also found 88% of employees experience guilt or anxiety when requesting annual leave, while 47% said they continue checking work emails or messages during holidays.

Compared with workers across Europe, UK employees were more likely to work while ill (91% versus 85%), work outside normal hours every day (55% versus 29%) and feel guilty about requesting leave (88% versus 53%).

Jasmine Escalera, career expert at MyPerfectCV, said: “Being ‘always on’ isn’t defined by one behaviour – it’s the accumulation of small decisions to stay connected.