Almost a quarter of working women are burning out, according to a new survey from The Open University, and a further three quarters of women are working too hard.
Working Women Burning Out To Gain Pay Rise Or Promotion
According to the new survey, man employees believe that working longer hours are the best way to earn a promotion or a pay rise, with only one in ten employers regarding this as an important factor to progressing in their roles.
61% of women now work regular overtime, with 8% working at least an extra forty hours a month - which is a full working week. All of these extra hours are leading to more and more working women being either 'very overworked' or 'burnt out.'
However, if you are looking to move up in your job or gain a pay rise, employers are looking at those who gain work related qualifications rather than the number of hours worked by their staff. In fact, nearly half of employers say that they would be more likely to offer a pay rise or promotion to those who have gained further work related qualifications to help with their job.
Other things viewed favourably by employers were staff who went on training courses, met deadlines and targets and who were eager to learn new job skills.
Despite further work related qualifications or training courses being top of employers list when it comes to handing out pay rises and promotions, only 11% of female workers recognise the value in adding to their already existing skill set.
Keith Zimmerman, Director, Students at The Open University says: "The start of a new year is the perfect time to take stock of your career and make decisions to change it for the better. The survey shows that people in the UK work very hard but some overlook the more effective means of achieving career goals."
"For more than 40 years we've seen at the OU how part-time study can impact on careers, whether in terms of offering a boost, or even setting out on a new path entirely. We also hear from employers how our students are able to take the knowledge they have learned on their course and apply it directly in the workplace.
"With higher skills more important to our national economy than ever, now is the perfect time to think about whether you've got the right ones."
Helping Britain's workforce to progress and enhance their careers, The Open University is releasing a Guide to Fast-Tracking Your Career containing expert advice from its Careers Advisory Service to help people work smarter, without necessarily working harder. The guide will be an invaluable resource for those who want to take their career to the next level.
To download the free Guide to Fast-tracking Your Career, visit www.openuniversity.co.uk/guide or for more information on how an Open University qualification could give your career the kick-start it needs call 0300 303 0068.