Owner managers work longer, says O2 survey

A survey commissioned by mobile provider O2 Ireland, has said owner managers in Irish small and medium businesses work longer hours than the average employee, and many often work weekends and miss out on annual leave.

Almost a quarter work more than 51 hours a week while 6% work more than 61 hours a week.

The average hours worked per week by senior managers in small and medium businesses is 44, compared to 37.2 hours for the rest of the population according to figures, from the Central Statistics Office.

A quarter of respondents in Irish SMEs say they do not take their full entitlement to annual leave - barely over half (51%) say they always take their full holidays.

Paul Farrell, Head of Marketing, O2 Ireland said: "The survey paints a picture of hard working entrepreneurs who more than earn any rewards they make."

Most Irish owner-managers (62%) have to work some weekends and two thirds of these work weekends more than once a month.

Almost half (47%) bring work home in the evenings and a quarter of these have to do this every weekday.

Dubliners spend an average of eight hours a week commuting compared to their counterparts in the rest of the country who commute for 5.2 hours a week.

Just 4% use public transport while three quarters travel by car.

Owner managers in small to medium business also support the Minister for Health's proposed smoking ban in pubs, with 67% in favour and 23% opposed.

Even amongst smokers, 38% support the ban although almost half of smokers (48%) are against it.

78% of non-smokers back the Minister.

The study was conducted on behalf of O2 Ireland by market research firm Millward Brown IMS amongst 300 firms employing between one and 50 people.