Manchester has been revealed as the home of the UK’s most ‘overworked’ employees, according to a new study.
In case you weren’t aware, April is also National Stress Awareness Month, and we all know that work and our jobs can be a huge contributing factor to our stress levels – but where abouts in the country are you likely to find the people experiencing the most stress at the hands of their career? In other words, where do the most overworked employees live?
Well, in a bid to answer this question, call-answering company Moneypenny decided to carry out a survey of 1,000 UK workers to discover which cities and industries are most likely to work overtime, and the hours they clock up each month.
The survey also looked at how the working of overtime impacts on the wellbeing and personal relationships of workers.
And, unfortunately, Manchesterhas claimed the top spot on the list.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mancs have been revealed as the most ‘overworked’ employees in the UK / Credit: Unsplash
The shocking new research found that, overall, 84% of Brits say they feel pressured to work overtime in their job, and one in four who do work overtime end up doing so without extra pay too – with the expectations of fulfilling their role’s responsibilities cited as being the top reason for people going above and beyond.
52% of survey respondents from 15 major UK cities have admitted to working overtime on a weekly basis, but when it comes to here in Manchester, that figure is even higher
ADVERTISEMENT
Mancs who responded to the survey said they stay behind at work an average of 9.6 days each month.
Clocking up a whopping average of 31.68 hours of monthly overtime, the average weekly contracted hours of employed residents is 32, meaning Manchester workers are adding an extra week’s worth of labour onto their monthly hours.
Top 10 Most Overworked Cities in the UK
Manchester
London
Norwich
Bristol
Belfast
Sheffield
Southampton
Nottingham
Leeds
Newcastle
London, Norwich, Bristol, and Belfast are the other four cities rounding out the top five behind Manchester, while fellow Northern cities in the top 10 include Leeds and Sheffield.
ADVERTISEMENT
The number one industry where employees were found to work the most overtime was Law Enforcement and Security, followed by Business, Consulting, and Management, IT, and Energy and Utilities, with Media and Internet closing out the top five.
The study also showed that working overtime, whether driven by job demands or economic factors, has a significant impact on lives outside of the workplace too.
More than a quarter (26%) of respondents reported that working overtime harmed their physical health, while 23% cited adverse effects on their mental health, and on top of this, more than one in six workers stated that overtime had caused relationship issues, with one in 12 even admitting that it had led to a breakup.
Bury actress Kate O’Flynn wins big at 2026 Emmys with record-breaking comedy show
Emily Sergeant
Did you know that one of the big winners at the 2026 Emmy Awards last night was actually an actress from Bury?
In case it wasn’t on your radar, American television‘s biggest night, the Emmys, took place yesterday evening over in Los Angeles, and several records were broken in the process – including Apple TV’s comedy horror Widow’s Bay taking home the most Emmys ever for a single series of a comedy show, with 14 of them.
Widow’s Bay tells the story of mayor Tom Loftis, played by Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, who is trying to boost tourism on his rugged New England island, but must navigate several strange events that suggest it might be cursed.
Created by Katie Dippold, and executive produced and directed by Hiro Murai, Widow’s Bay was released in late April to widespread critical acclaim.
At the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards last night, the show scooped a record 14 awards, including for Outstanding Comedy Series, several acting wins, and wins for directing and writing too.
One of those acting wins was Kate O’Flynn for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – an actress who hails from the Greater Manchester town of Bury.
Kate stars as Patricia Moyer, mayor Tom’s eccentric assistant in the show.
She grew up in Holcombe Brook near Ramsbottom, and was educated at Bury Grammar School, before she went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Acting in 2006.
Taking to the stage to accept her award last night, Kate said in her speech: “I want to thank our mayor [Matthew Rhys] and all the residents of Widow’s Bay, in front and behind the camera – you’re amazing. This is the role of a lifetime, thank you Katie and Hiro for trusting a Lancashire lass to play a sassy broad like Patricia. And thank you Apple [TV] for saying yes.
“Thank you Nicky and Tony for looking after me, my family back home, my mum and dad, and the loves of my life, my husband and our darling daughter – another sassy broad in the making.
“This is for all the Patricias out there, see you at Sunset Cocktails to celebrate. Thank you.”
Featured Image – The Television Academy (via YouTube)
Trending
M&S launches new Too Good To Go partnership – with NINE Greater Manchester stores signed up
Emily Sergeant
M&S has finally decided to partner with food waste charity, Too Good To Go.
As of yesterday, a total of 350 M&S stores across the UK – including nine major sites in Greater Manchester – now offer new Too Good To Go ‘Surprise Bags’ that are made up of surplus bakery goodies, giving customers the chance to collect quality food at a reduced price at the end of the day directly from in-store bakeries.
The launch follows a trial in a select number of UK stores, and the Surprise Bags will include bakery treats such as pastries, cookies, and fresh bread.
The partnership with Too Good To Go is the latest move in M&S Food’s work to reduce surplus food and ensure good food doesn’t go to waste.
Greater Manchester stores that will be taking part in the new Too Good To Go partnership include Manchester Market Street, Trafford Centre, Stockport, Spinningfields, Prestwich, Wigan Robin, Bolton Middlebrook, Bury The Rock, and Ashton Moss.
Each of the Surprise Bags will include three to four bakery products to a minimum retail price of £10.20 for just £3.80.
Available Monday to Saturday, customers can order their Surprise Bags through the Too Good To Go app, and collect them one hour before their local store closes.
“It’s great to be involved in this new launch with Too Good To Go to help reduce food waste,” commented Chris Parker, who is the Store Manager at M&S Bolton Middlebrook.
“Our in-store bakeries are incredibly popular with customers, and at the end of the day, customers will now be able to order and collect surprise bags offering fantastic surplus bakery products at great value.
“By finding new ways to re-purpose surplus products, we’re helping ensure more food is enjoyed rather than wasted. This partnership is another positive step towards reaching our goal of halving food waste by 2030.”
Emily Sergeant -
10th April 2024 
