Two fifths of employees work longer than necessary, but just eight percent get any rewards.

Office workers are giving in to the demands of their bosses and working beyond their proper hours with one in five stating everyone in their company is expected to work extra hours.

However, the research by employee wellbeing specialist Right Corecare reveals a quarter of these ‘out-of-hours’ workers admit to checking Facebook or surfing the Internet on company time, while 12 percent get into work early or leave late even when they have little to do. Some 39 percent genuinely stay to get work done, but a sixth simply do it to be seen as hardworking.

As Onrec reports, although 15 per cent of employees think staying in the office longer will help their career progression, only half this figure have actually received a promotion or pay rise as a result.

Adrienne Heeley, of Right Corecare said:”It’s clear that many people believe that the only way to get ahead is to be visibly seen as hard working by bosses and colleagues. As the economy slows down and employees become concerned about their positions within an organisation, this problem could worsen - with staff seeking to secure their jobs by being first in and last to leave.

“But this ‘jacket-on-the-back-of-the-chair’ approach is counterproductive – it has a detrimental effect on the employee’s well-being, the productivity of the business and the UK’s economy as a whole.”