It will come as no surprise to those that work in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries, that they work the longest hours per week of any sector in the UK. On average, UK farmers work a 65-hour week, significantly longer than the UK average of 37 hours. A recent Farmers Weekly survey found that some work longer than 100 hours. The Fit2Farm questionnaire, conducted in August and September, asked over 700 farmers, farm managers and workers, about their work habits, health and wellbeing, and it made for some interesting and honest reading. Here are some of the highlights...      

Time to take time off?

With such a high number of working hours, time off for farmers comes at a premium. Almost half of respondents said that they were only able to take a day off once or twice a month, and a quarter said they were only able to do so only once or twice a year. While most UK workers are entitled to 28 days holiday each year, those surveyed took only 11 days on average, with 1 in 10 taking no holidays at all throughout the year. Just two-thirds said they had taken a holiday in the past year, with 1 in 3 of these taking less than 3 nights away.

Counting sheep

Having to wake up at the crack of dawn is an everyday occurrence for most farmers, so it won’t come as a shock to know that two-thirds surveyed said they didn't get enough sleep, with over a quarter saying they had trouble nodding off all or most of the time. Music, a hot drink, alcohol or medication were some of the ways respondents helped themselves get to sleep. In regards to alcohol consumption, just over half of respondents (52 per cent) said they enjoyed a drink. The average weekly consumption was 13 units of alcohol, just one unit lower than the recommended UK limit for men and women.         

Physical and mental health

Getting up early and working long hours will, of course, take its toll on the body. One in 10 respondents said their work was limited by a long-term health issue. Nearly two-thirds believed they were in good shape physically, though the number was lower when it comes to how they feel mentally at 55 per cent. Issues that created stress were centred on time, health, workload and relationships. Cashflow problems, too much work, too little time and feeling unable to leave the farm to be with family and friends were all mentioned by respondents.

Fit2Farm campaign

The Fit2Farm campaign aims to help farmers maintain and enhance their physical and mental wellbeing in order to achieve a better work/life balance. The Worshipful Company of Farmers, Farmers Weekly and several farm charities are supporting the campaign, as are many industry leaders.

What did you think of the survey results? Let us know your thoughts!