Millennials are sacrificing up to £34 billion in unpaid overtime each year, recent data shows. A survey of 2,000 employed individuals found that they are putting in nearly three extra hours of work per week beyond their regular schedules.
This translates to approximately £49 lost per week per full-time Millennial worker, based on the average hourly wage of £18.24. The study revealed that individuals aged 18-44 are the ones working the most overtime, with Boomers putting in just over two additional hours per week. A significant percentage of Millennials and Gen Z, 63% and 76% respectively, believe that working overtime is essential for career advancement.
Furthermore, the research highlighted that 30% of Gen Z and 22% of Millennials feel pressured several times a week, if not daily, to work extra hours to meet work demands. The lack of leisure time is negatively impacting their eating habits, with 73% admitting that their job influences their diet negatively, leading them to opt for fast food or takeout twice a week due to time constraints.
George Taylor, the founder of Frive, the organization behind the research, emphasized that younger generations, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, are working diligently but often at the expense of their well-being. A third of Millennials and Gen Z workers spend three or four evenings per week still working, a trend less common among the general population.
The pressure to work long hours has resulted in missed family moments, with a third of Millennial workers frequently absent during dinner times and 19% having missed important family events like birthdays. Notably, 5% have even missed significant life events, such as the birth of their child, due to work commitments.
The study also revealed that 60% of Millennials and Gen Z workers are willing to accept a pay cut if it means working fewer hours to achieve a better work-life balance. Frive’s spokesperson stressed the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal well-being to avoid burnout, highlighting the negative impact of poor nutrition on overall health.
Frive aims to make healthy eating convenient and nutritious to help individuals reclaim their time and energy for a more balanced and fulfilling life.