New statistics reveal a rise in workers’ happiness with working hours and work-life balance. The employee engagement research was conducted by leading HR consultancy ETS. Such increases are particularly surprising given that the latest Office for National Statistics data shows the average working week is getting longer.

While unionised staff from some of the UK’s largest organisations disrupt vital services by striking in protest at wage freezes and reduced hours, small business employees have, in stark contrast, been rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in.

Researchers have suggested that unfit men who work long hours are more likely to die from heart disease than those who are fitter, or work shorter hours.

Senior cardiac nurse, Cathy Ross, said: “The study identified that men in general who work between 41 and 45 hours a week can increase their risk of dying from coronary heart disease by 59% compared with those working less than 40 hours a week. Interestingly, there was no increase in risk for men who worked more than 45 hours a week if they were physically fit.