Many raised concerns about staffing levels, with most respondents saying they were working extra hours.

BBC: Poor morale and job cuts threaten NHS reform, says RCN

Oh, and working extra hours in the middle of the night when they are up with their babies!

FORBES: 5 Things Working Moms Want Right Now

On further investigation, it turned out those employees were working extra hours, going above and beyond to earn the confidence of their employer and, ultimately, earning those chances for advancement.

FORBES: How to Deal With Favoritism in the Office

Eight out of 10 workers questioned in a survey by Office Angels recruitment consultancy admitted working an average 25 hours extra in the weeks surrounding their break.

CNN: Stressed out in the sunshine

When the recession hit, workers had built up a large number of extra hours in their working-time accounts that could be wound down as work dried up.

ECONOMIST: How Germany weathered the recession

Employees and unions have reacted angrily to the plans, saying they could result in cuts to salaries, sick pay, holiday entitlement and extra payments made for working anti-social hours.

BBC: South West NHS regional pay plan anger: MP Ben Bradshaw

As workers grow richer, Mr Hamermesh argues, they use part of their extra earning power to buy more agreeable working hours.

ECONOMIST: No more nine-to-five

The same study found that most workers spend an extra three to five hours a week working at home when they have notebooks, Dulaney said.

CNN: Mobile workers will stick with modems

In terms of hours saved, each telecommuter would get the equivalent of an extra 25 working days of holiday per year.

ECONOMIST: Tech.view

For example, if your partner loses their job and you are offered extra paid hours at work, you can take them, even if it means working more than 48 hours a week.

BBC: Viewpoints: Working time dispute