Our Workplace Series on work/life balance also found that 78% of people interviewed said they want a better work-life balance. Of these people, 30.5% think their career would suffer if they did. Yet 89% think they would produce stronger results at work if they had a better work-life balance.
30% of people interviewed said they were currently suffering from high stress levels. Of these people, 86% said they currently have no access to flexible working practices.
54.5% of people interviewed work 40 to 49 hours per week, while 19.5% work over 60 hours.
82.5% of people said they work overtime, yet 74% of these are not rewarded for this with extra pay or time off in lieu.
70% of people interviewed said they are currently not suffering from high stress levels. Of these people, 66% said they play regular sport.
Commenting on the findings, Jacky Carter, Director of Hays said: "The phrase 'work-life balance' has been heard in the market since 1986, however it has only been recently that businesses have really begun incorporating it into their day-to-day operations.
"When 56.5% of employees say their company implies longer working weeks are a necessity for career advancement though, and 78% of employees indicate they want a better work-life balance, it is clear Australian workplaces have not yet found a balance that helps employees combine their work responsibilities with the other responsibilities in their life."
According to Jacky, common flexible working arrangements are time off in lieu, staggered hours, flexi-time options, compressed work hours, working from home and job-sharing.