Partner Article

Small business owners struggle with balance

Small business owners are struggling to maintain a work-life balance with nearly a quarter working late into the night, according to a report by Alliance & Leicester. Concerns about the economic downturn, regulatory pressures and day-to-day worries are adding to workloads, forcing small business owners to spend over 50 hours in the office each week.

Of those small businesses which have been trading for over a year and are office based, 23% of owners say they spend in excess of 50 hours a week in the office.

The research also shows that it is not becoming any easier to strike work-life balance with two out of 68% of business leaders saying that they spend the same or more time in the office than they did five years ago.

Many entrepreneurs tend to favour working long hours as it gives them a sense of involvement in the day to day running of the company - 35% said they felt less involved if they are not in the office on a daily basis.

Steve Jennings, director of business banking at Alliance & Leicester said: “It is difficult for small business owners to achieve an optimum work-life balance when they are ultimately responsible for the success and financial health of their business.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .