British workers dissatisfied with leisure time levels

Almost three quarters (70%) of Brits are unhappy with the amount of leisure time they have outside of work and 51% would happily pay their employer for an extra hour off each day, according to research by Fool.co.uk.

The ‘Leisure Index’study, which aims to place a value on modern Brits’ time, questioned UK workers on the amount they would pay for an extra hour off work each day, as well as how they would choose to spend their time. The average Brit would gladly pay £5, 5% of the UK’s average annual salary, or £1,280 over the course of a year and almost one in ten (8%) would go so far as paying over £10.

The research of over 2,000 UK adults also reveals:

Almost a third (32%) would choose to sleep or do nothing with their time

One in five (19%) of Brits said they would like more free time even though they do not make the most of what they have already

When push comes to shove, the majority of Brits (58%) would rather receive a pay rise than be granted extra holiday

Getting frisky

Whilst the majority of us (53%) would use an extra hour’s leisure time to see friends, family or a partner, almost a third (31%) of Brits would much rather have sex. Men are by far the friskier gender with 36% claiming they would use their extra hour for sex compared to just 23% of women. Women’s interests seem to lean more in favour of shopping, with almost twice as many women (24%) as men (12%) vying to hit the shops.

Top Ways Brits Would Fill Their Leisure Time

1 Spend time with friends, family or partner
2 Read a book/newspapers or listen to music
3 Exercise/sport
4 Watch television/DVD/play computer games
5 Sleep/do nothing
6 Have sex
7 Pursue a hobby/learn a new skill
8 Go to a concert/theatre/sports event
9 Shop


Lazy Brits

When questioned about their current leisure time amounts, one in five (19%) of Brits said that they would like more free time even though they do not make the most of what they have already. This malaise is backed up by the fact that a third (32%) of workers would use their extra hour to do nothing or sleep, with Londoners (36%) and Southerners (38%) most in favour of such inactivity.

Show me the money

Despite a large amount of dissatisfaction and Brits wanting increased leisure time, when push comes to shove the majority of Brits (58%) would rather receive a pay rise than be granted extra holiday. This is most apparent in Scotland where two thirds (66%) would take a 5% pay rise instead. Furthermore, given the option of selling holiday back to an employer for an increase in salary, more than half (56%) would choose not to exchange their holiday allowance.

David Kuo, Head of Personal Finance at Fool.co.uk, says: “We all know that Brits work too hard and just don’t get enough free time - what’s suprising is just how much people are prepared to pay for as little as an extra hour a day. At Fool.co.uk, we’d suggest it’s your finances that need to work harder - not you!

“By just making a few small changes like putting away 5p in every pound you earn can help turn every month into a good month for your personal finances. And this means you can take the foot off the gas at work and indulge in what you like doing most – whether that’s spending time with family or friends or simply putting your feet up!”