Many British employees are finding themselves performing tasks for their bosses that fall outside of their job description, according to budgeting account provider thinkmoney.
Their research showed that 70 percent of workers are regularly taking on extra tasks at work, with 32 percent of people saying they undertake tasks that are their boss’s responsibility and 20 percent reporting that they lie in order to cover up for their boss.
Ian Williams of thinkmoney said:
“In these uncertain times, it’s understandable that workers often feel under pressure to do more to keep their boss happy. It’s all well and good to do an extra job or two to help your employer but, when those extra jobs start to become expected and workers feel that they have no choice, it can cause stress and potentially lead to bigger problems down the line.”
When asked why they take on extra duties at work more than half (55%) of employees said that they were happy to do it. However, 39 percent of respondents said that they felt they had no choice.
Younger workers between the ages of 25 and 34 are more likely to add extra tasks to their to do lists in order to impress their boss (11%) and over half of that age group reported feeling pressured to take on more work.
Things workers do to help out the boss
Buy their lunch 36%
Give them a lift 36%
Go to the Post Office 34%
Do their work for them 32%
Do shopping for them 30%
Buy their coffee 28%
Make travel or dinner reservations 20%
Lie for them 20%
Walk their dog 13%
Pick-up their dry cleaning 13%
Steff joined the HRreview editorial team in November 2014. A former event coordinator and manager, Steff has spent several years working in online journalism. She is a graduate of Middlessex University with a BA in Television Production and will complete a Master's degree in Journalism from the University of Westminster in the summer of 2015.
