16-24 year olds are hardest workers

Younger office employees are far more likely to work longer hours and spend more time at work than their older colleagues, according to a new report.

The study, conducted by OfficeGenie.co.uk, found that workers aged between 16-24 average seven hours and 22 minutes overtime every week. That is a staggering two hours more than employees aged over 55. The survey interviewed over 1,000 workers in Britain, with 11% of 16-to-24-year-old respondents claiming to do more than 20 hours overtime per week , which is twice as many as any other age group.

Ciaron Dunne, CEO at Office Genie, explained the surprising revelation: “Younger people get a bad press with many misconceptions about them being workshy with a sense of entitlement. This survey shows quite the opposite – that teens and those in their early to mid-twenties have plenty of get up and go and determination to put in the hours.”

Employees in their thirties and forties placed second in the overtime ranking, with most of this age group confessing to working five and half hours extra per week.