Excessive workloads are forcing more than half of full time civil servants to work over and above their contracted hours, according to a survey conducted by the Centre for Industrial Relations at Keele University in conjunction with the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).

The research found that 46% of those surveyed worked between 40 and 48 hours and 1 in 20 broke the working time regulations by working more than 49 hours per week.

The report found that half of all those working additional hours to keep control of their excessive workloads. This compares with a third in the private sector delivering civil service contracts.

It found that nearly 40% had attended work when ill to keep up with the workload and more than half experience difficulties balancing work and family/private life.

Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, says: “This report clearly illustrates that the government’s drive to slash jobs is leading to increasing workloads and embedding a long hours culture in civil and public services. With fewer people to do the same amount of work, staff are under increasing pressure leading to corners being cut, which in turn damages the quality of service delivery.

“It smacks of double standards, with the government promoting work-life balance policies, when more than half those surveyed experienced difficulty in balancing their work and family/private life. Excessive workloads resulting from job and pay cuts in real terms are all hitting the morale of dedicated staff committed to delivering first-rate service. The government, as a responsible employer, needs to wake up to the fact that decent public services need enough people with enough resources to deliver them.”