Last updated 12:33, Saturday, 03 May 2008

WORKERS are missing out on exercise, cooking, relaxing and relationships because of the UK’s long hours culture, according to a new report.

A survey of 1,900 adults by American Express Insurance showed that four out of five were too busy in their jobs to spend time on their home and social lives.

Work was increasingly eating into people’s lives, leaving less time for exercise, cleaning the house, keeping in touch with relatives and friends, cooking, going to the dentists, sorting out finances and having quality time with a partner and children.

Women were most likely to have less time to spend on themselves, frequently having to delay an appointment at the hairdresser because of work commitments, the study found.

Workers in north east Scotland were most likely to make time for their home lives, while those in Yorkshire suffered the worst level of work-life balance, according to the research.

Chris Rolland, head of American Express Insurance Services, said: “We recognise that for many hard working Britons there are simply not enough hours in the day. However, our research shows many Brits are letting their health, relationships and finances suffer as a result.”