SMEs: ‘Lack of time has a negative impact on workers’ health’.

Many of the Dutch SMEs say they perform tasks outside normal hours, even though they work between 31 and 40 hours a week. That’s what Salesforce’s research shows. However, according to 47 percent, lack of time is also a source of negative impact on their own personal health or that of their employees.

49 per cent of SMEs in the Netherlands work between 31 and 40 hours a week. Only a quarter say they do not work on public holidays (26 percent) or religious holidays (24 percent). Another 14 per cent do not work at weekends and 25 per cent refuse to work during the annual holidays.

The owners also say they know that it is not good to work too many hours to get ahead in the company, the so-called hustle & gravel culture. 70 percent say this is unhealthy. Yet 47 percent say that this corporate culture prevails in their company. This is despite the fact that 47 per cent of them point to a lack of time as a source of negative impact on their own health or that of their employees. 26 percent of the owners even took (sick) leave or left the company for mental health reasons.

This is striking, as 63 percent of SMEs claim to have started their own business because of a better work-life balance. Only 56% think they have found a better balance in the current situation.

Technology

A lack of time is therefore a problem for Dutch SMEs. However, technology can help to free up more time, and the owners see that as well. For example, 58 percent say that new technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and robot automation can save time. Moreover, 57% think that such technologies have already made their employees more productive than two years ago.

“What this report shows is that technology provides an important, fast and accessible way for small businesses to find the extra minutes and hours that will really make a difference to their business and employees in the long run,” said Eva Heffernan, Country Leader Netherlands at Salesforce.