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UK staff still work longest hours in Europe

Staff in the UK, Romania and Bulgaria work the longest hours in Europe, with workers in the UK working an average of 41.4 hours 1.5 hours more than the average for the 27 European states.

The findings, by The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions show that by comparison, France and Italy work the shortest - an average of 37.7 and 38.4 hours a week.
 
Britons also receive less annual leave than the average European worker, while the research also finds that (except for the UK), the newest 12 members work longer than the original 15 EU members. (39.6 hours compared to 37.9).
 
Swedish workers enjoy the most annual leave - 33 days' worth. At the bottom end of the scale Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Romania and Slovakia averaged just 21.9 days of paid leave per year.