WHILE HONG KONG companies will maintain the pace of hiring in the second quarter, people already in jobs will still have to work harder and may risk burnout, according to a new survey measuring human resources and employment trends.
'Employee burnout, by which we mean performance deteriorating because of overwork, is becoming more widespread,' warned Gary Lazzarotto, Hudson's chief executive for Asia.
The quarterly Hudson Report, which surveyed 2,500 regional executives, including 677 in Hong Kong, indicates that 50 per cent of local companies are planning to recruit staff before the end of June.
Despite this, pressure in the workplace is expected to grow. Across the region, 60 per cent of employees already worked more than 50 hours a week, with 17 per cent working more than 60 hours.
Overall, staff in Hong Kong are the most overloaded, with only 29 per cent working regular eight-hour days and five-day weeks.
Responses showed that half work between 51 and 60 hours, 15 per cent up to 70 hours, and 5 per cent work more than 70 hours per week.