HR professionals are working longers hours than ever before, according to a new report.

The survey of 6,000 HR professionals by Croner Reward, and in association with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), found that 56 per cent of respondents are now working 40 to 45 hours, which is a 20 per cent increase over the past two years.

It also showed that over 60 per cent of HR professionals working in the private sector work between 40 and 50 hours a week – up from 51 per cent in 2005 – whilst over half of those in the voluntary sector work between 40 and 50 hours, compared to 27 per cent two years ago.

Charles Cotton, CIPD adviser, said: “The long hours culture could reflect the fact that HR departments are under increasing pressure to demonstrate how they add value to the business.”

However, the survey also revealed that 64 per cent of HR professionals rated their job satisfaction as good or excellent. Yet those working in the public sector had the lowest job satisfation.

Cotton suggested this could be due to “bad management”.

Vivienne Copeland, director of client services at Croner Reward, remarked: “Whilst HR professionals are trying to encourage work life balance among the workforce, it appears they might struggle to achieve this for themselves.”