A CULTURE of long hours and exhausted employees needs to be challenged to make Britain's work places more productive claims a Black Country employment lawyer.

Hannah Scott, of Waldrons, said a survey released this week, showing almost half of UK managers work an extra day of unpaid overtime each week, demonstrated an unhealthy attitude in the workplace to long hours.

The survey, by the Institute for Leadership and Management, followed Britain's workforce being given the right to ask for flexible working hours, rather than just parents and carers.

"There is a burning the midnight oil culture here in the UK, where those chained to their desk for the longest get a pat on the back, yet we are proven to be less productive than many of our European neighbours," said Miss Scott, of Waldons' Brierley Hill head office.

"The flexible working hours changes have been highlighted in the media as a step forward but, in effect, they will make very little difference, as primarily the economic needs of the employer have to be met. Without doing this there would be no money to pay the employees' wages.

"The needs of people engaging with businesses, either as suppliers or customers, have to be met and this is foremost in employers' minds, as it should be.

"However, more needs to be done to promote a better work/life balance, where employees can be highly productive consistently, rather than being burnt out. The new statutory framework does not provide for true flexibility and common sense."

The survey of 1,056 Institute of Leadership and Management members found 76 per cent work late in the office or at home, 48 per cent through their lunch break and more than a third at weekends.

"Having healthy and motivated employees leads to less disputes and surveys like this one shows in the UK we still have some way to go to make that work life balance a reality in most lives," added Miss Scott.