Longer hours and increasing workloads means that the average weekend lasts just 39 hours and 42 minutes - rather than the full 64 hours - according to new research by female friendly insurer Sheilas' Wheels.

Researchers found employees do not relax and unwind from the office until the early hours of Saturday morning (1.48am) and start worrying about the week ahead from 5.30pm on Sunday. More than a quarter of Brits (29 per cent) surveyed claiming to never switch off from work at all.

According to the research, it's men who find it hardest to switch off working on average 37 hours on the weekends every year, compared to women who work an additional 21 hours. Ten years ago only half of Brits (51 per cent) engaged in work related activity at the weekend, but now 70 per cent of us do.

Nearly two-fifths (38 per cent) of the employees polled check their work emails at least once over the weekend and a third (33 per cent) regularly respond. Among the places that Brits admit to emailing colleagues or clients are on a night out with friends (15 per cent), in bed (19 per cent) and whilst out shopping in a supermarket (14 per cent). Six per cent of Brits have even responded to an email while driving and an unsavoury seven per cent have done so while in the bathroom.

A quarter of those polled (25 per cent) admit to being told off by their partner for checking their work emails over the weekend. Further to this, 46 per cent have even gone into the office at the weekend and, worse still, 27 per cent have cut short or cancelled a weekend social engagement because of work interruptions.

Almost half of Brits (46 per cent) said that work stress is a daily distraction with 45 per cent admitting that it makes them more forgetful around the home. 58 per cent of those polled have even failed to lock their front door behind them and another 58 per cent have accidentally left electrical appliances such as their iron or hair strengtheners on while distracted by work.

Jacky Brown at Sheilas' Wheels home insurance comments: "With increasingly hectic working lifestyles work is never just nine to five - so it can be hard to get work out of your mind completely during the weekend.

"Sheilas' Wheels is calling for everyone to make sure they don't become too distracted by work when it comes to home security. The dangers of leaving windows and doors unlocked, or hair straighteners switched on whilst in a hurry could result in a nasty fire or even a burglary. It's better to risk losing some of your weekend time than putting your personal safety at risk - no matter how pushed for time you might be."

Regions with the shortest weekends:
1. East Midlands (32 hours, 36 minutes)

2. North West (35 hours, 54 minutes)

3. West Midlands (37 hours, 48 minutes)

4. London (38 hours, 12 minutes)

5. Yorkshire (38 hours, 48 minutes)

6. East England (39 hours, 24 minutes)

7. South West (40 hours, 48 minutes)

8. South East (41 hours)

9. Northern Ireland (42 hours, 30 minutes)

10. North East (43 hours, 16 minutes)

11. Wales (44 hours, 42 minutes)

12. Scotland (45 hours, 42 minutes)

Age differences
Brits under the age of 25 work the most weekend hours - 38 a year compared to over 55s who work an additional 25 hours annually. A further 38 per cent of under 25s also admit to regularly responding to emails over the weekend.

The findings reveal that 35 to 44 year-olds tend to put play before work with just a third (33 per cent) admitting to checking their emails at the weekend - compared to 42 per cent of over 55s and under 25s.