Despite the introduction of the Working Time Directive six years ago to control working hours, employees are now working longer hours than in 1992 and spend less time with their families.

According to a report published today by the TUC and the Working Families charity, nine-out-of-10 parents now believe that excessive working hours damage family life.

The study was also highly critical of individual opt-out which allows UK employees to only work over 48 hours if they sign up to the agreement; in practice many who work long hours have either not signed up, or are forced by their employer to work extended hours.

Working Families Chief Executive Sarah Jackson said: "We know that parents are struggling to find a balance between work and family life even on a 35 hour week.

"Callers to our helpline tell us of the desperate problems it causes when employers require them to work long hours. Employees need the right to say no to long hours working, and employers need to recognize how much better it is for business to work smarter, not longer."

Even the flexible working rules introduced last April are failing to make a significant difference to employees’ lives, according to the TUC.

A survey carried out on the Working Families website found that only four out of every ten requests to work flexible hours were successful, 25% were altered in some way before being agreed, and 32% of the requests were rejected by employers.

(MMG/GMCG)