British IT directors are unproductive workaholics, according to research by IT outfit Mercury. It reckons IT directors are burning-out after succumbing to the UK's long-hours culture.

Quizzing some of the UK's top IT directors, Mercury found that a third worked between 48 and 60 hours a week, while one in ten said they worked more than 60 hours a week. Just two per cent said they worked less than 36 hours a week.

Combine this study with the findings of a 2001 productivity report by the TUC, which found that the UK workforce is the most unproductive in Europe, and you get the following conclusion from Mercur: IT bods need to work smarter, not harder.

Said Elie Kanaan, VP strategy, Mercury: "Businesses in UK are still concerned with employment issues that have been well publicised in the media, such as stress and sick leave but many are still not aware of the real risks of low productivity that are costing businesses daily." ®