The TUC has today published a report showing that four million people work more than 48 hours a week.

John Monks, general secretary of the TUC, has described Britain's long hours culture as "a national disgrace".

Forum Response: Institute of Directors

A spokesman for the Institute of Directors told ePolitix.com: "Contrary to the TUC findings our own research shows that the actual average hours worked by British employees are much in the middle globally and are not even the longest in the EU. Surveys show that most employees who do work long hours do so quite voluntarily - not least of all because it results in higher remuneration."