SME workers at high risk of "office burnout"

New research has revealed that employees at small-to-medium sized enterprises are at high risk of office burnout – with their physical, emotional and mental health at risk.

The study by AXA PPP healthcare found that long hours are embedded into SME culture with almost half (47%) of SME employees regularly working more than four hours of overtime per week.

Over a quarter (27%) of these employees put in seven or more hours of overtime even though over half (52%) of SME employees do not get paid for it.

Dr Gary Bolger, Chief Medical Officer at AXA PPP Healthcare, said: “Small and medium sized businesses are the backbone of the economy – driving innovation, enterprise and growth. Their commitment is commendable yet our study shows that owners and bosses may be putting themselves and their employees at increased risk of burnout and ill health through protracted overwork.”