A recent report has revealed that more than 90 percent of Chinese professionals have to work long hours and put in extra shifts in order to accomplish their allotted tasks on schedule.

The Report on the Development of Professional Managers in 2007, jointly published by the China Enterprise Confederation, China Enterprise Directors Association, and KM100 Market Research, was released during the annual national conference on professional managers and executives from Chinese enterprises held July 14-15.

Sun Yanhu, vice chairman of the China Enterprise Confederation, said the report was based on a questionnaire to more than 9,000 professional managers and executives. Among those interviewed, 80 percent were male, and those aged between 35-50 accounted for 65 percent of the total; 67 percent had academic credentials.

According to the report, only 7 percent of those surveyed were able to leave work at the scheduled time every day, 50 percent worked 1-2 hours longer, 34 percent 3-4 hours longer, eight percent 5-7 hours longer, and one percent 8-10 hours longer.

"Comprehensively, professional managers and executives in foreign-funded enterprises work longer hours and bear heavier pressures, with 60 percent of them working three hours of overtime every day," said Sun. "Those who work at least five extra hours daily are mostly employed in private enterprises."

The report reveals that due to the particularity of their professions, such as heavy working pressure and working hours, some mangers and executives are in poor health, with 11 percent saying they "overspend their strength and energy," 27 percent "bear comparatively big psychological pressure," and six percent "have chronic diseases."

Only five percent of those investigated believed their health and spirits were "comparatively normal or very normal."

Managers from private enterprises accounted for the largest group saying they "overspent their strength and energy" (15.4 percent); managers from foreign-funded enterprises formed the largest group claiming "comparatively heavy psychological pressure" (34.6 percent); managers from state-owned enterprises suffered the most "chronic diseases" (13.2 percent).

"One conclusion of the investigation is that professional managers from foreign-funded enterprises seem better able to adjust their living and working paces. This is worth learning by managers from state-owned and private enterprises," commented Xiong Ying, executive marketing director for KM100 Market Research

Vice Chairman Sun shared Xiong's opinion, saying that "professional managers should pay more attention on how to balance work and living while improving their self-capabilities."

(China.org.cn by Li Jingrong, July 18, 2007)