Press Release: Remote working leads to longer working hours for Irish project managers

PM Summit, Ireland’s premier conference for project and programme managers, today announces the findings of a new study which reveals that almost two thirds (64%) of project managers with access to remote working said it leads to longer working hours. In fact, 32% report that they work between 5 and 15 extra hours each week – entirely because of remote working, which equates to working a 7-day week for some and a 6-day week for most.

The survey, carried out with the assistance of Pan Research, surveyed a representative sample of 331 of Ireland’s 50,000+ project managers. It found that 41% of project managers are expected to respond to emails outside work hours. For those working in the architecture, engineering and construction sectors, that rises to 48%. Just 25% in the IT sector, meanwhile, say they are expected to respond to emails when off duty.

PM Summit’s research found that responding to out-of-hours emails is impacting project managers’ work/life balance. Almost half (49%) of those surveyed said it has a negative effect on their work/life balance, increasing to 56% for those working in the architecture, engineering and construction sectors.