Irish workers are spoofing to make their bosses think that their jobs are more demanding than they actually are according to a new study.
It says that 80% of Irish professionals have faked their workloads by staying late in the office beyond their contracted hours - 37% stay late regularly just to appear to be working hard.
Over one-third (36%) of respondents said they feel under pressure to stay late in the office because they see their colleagues staying on.
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The ‘Overhauling a culture of presenteeism at work’ study says that more and more workers are extending their working days because they think that it will help them to progress in their careers if they are perceived as 'hard workers.'
30% believe that working from home or off site will harm their careers - but 52% also say working away from the office would help them manage childcare arrangements more easily. A further 45% believe working away from the office would help them meet clients more easily.
Almost two-thirds of respondents (63%) think that the Government should educate employers on the benefits of flexible working, while 35% believe the Irish Government should provide grants or funding for the provision of flexible working technology.
The research was funded by Ricoh - a global technology company that is using new technologies to improve working practices. YouGov carried out the survey.
Gary Hopwood, general manager of Ricoh Ireland, said: "We were astonished to learn that 80% of professionals have felt the need to fake their workload to get ahead in their careers. It seems that Irish professionals believe the key to impressing management is staying late in the office, rather than producing the best results.
"These outdated work practices are holding many professionals back and could also be hindering business growth. Employees should not have to fear being punished for not being physically at their desk for 40 hours a week."
He continued: "The digital age is more fluid than the rigid, outdated practice of presenteeism. Employers need to embrace flexible working practices for employees in a transparent, collaborative way with proper guidance from the Irish government. We need to put platforms in place which support flexible working so that both the employer and the employee can progress and thrive."
