Would you work harder - for nothing? The hidden costs of employment fear

In one sense, employers have never had it so good. Not only do they have a vast and growing pool of unemployed people from which to select. But, their employees are also likely to be working harder, putting in unpaid overtime and keeping their heads down in times of great uncertainty for those in work. That is the conclusion of a new survey reported here in the Telegraph.

The pressure placed in the workplace by rising unemployment and incertainty about future prospects in a firm manifests itself in several ways, as outlined by the survey. For example:

- Working more than the standard working week (overtime)
- Catching up with work at home and at weekends
- Not taking available breaks (e.g. lunch)

The TUC estimated the cost to employees of unpaid work at around £30bn per year. Is that a cost saving for employers? Or are there hidden costs for employers if their workforce are being put under increasing strain and pressure.

A separate survey, albeit with a similar conclusion, has found that managers are feeling particularly insecure about their employment prospects in 2012. The CPID survey found that managers fear a fresh round of redundancies in 2012 as firms look to cut costs amid falling business confidence,