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)