Working hours in a large New Zealand construction company

Long working hours and weekend working are an integral part of many jobs in the construction industry, and are job characteristics that are linked to work-life conflict, which adversely affects employees' ability to achieve work-life balance. Furthermore, the industry’s culture of long working hours limits its ability to attract and retain talented employees. Since much of the work-life balance research in the construction industry focuses on working hours, this research aimed to identify the typical working hours of the professional and managerial level staff within a single large New Zealand construction company. One hundred and twenty one (121) head office and site-based employees responded to an online survey. Results support the assertion that New Zealand construction industry employees tend to work long hours, and that work location affects working hour demands. Qualitative results suggest some work-life conflict associated with working long hours and weekend work exists. The New Zealand construction industry must provide a supportive workplace culture in which to address these issues, and provide reasonable working hours, in order to find a balance that is suitable to employees, companies, and the industry as a whole.