More than half of UK workers have taken action to help survive the recession either by agreeing to work longer hours, take a pay cut or by changing work patterns. According to new research carried out by R3, the trade body for insolvency professionals, at least one in three staff members have worked overtime or longer hours without extra pay while 10 per cent have agreed to a pay freeze or taken unpaid leave to save jobs and help keep their employers afloat.

“Throughout the country ordinary workers are doing their bit to help companies through recession but the question remains as to whether management teams are doing everything they can,” said Gordon Mowat CA of Aspire Management Services, on of the country’s leading independent business consultants.

“Working harder will only help businesses get so far but working smarter could actually make a major difference. “The goodwill of employees will only last for a limited time. Management have to not only improve their own practices but be seen to do so by their staff and customers. “It has never been more important for businesses to plan the work and work the plan instead spending all their energy firefighting to keep afloat.”

According to R3, which stands for ‘Rescue, Recovery, and Renewal, the willingness of workers to adapt to changes, forsake pay rises or accept unpaid overtime can be helpful as part of a package of measures to keep companies trading in the current climate.

“A few people in a company taking pay freezes in the short term can prevent insolvency and job losses in the long term,” said John Hall, R3 Council Member for Scotland. “With record numbers of insolvencies and rising unemployment, these people make a significant contribution to their companies, their colleagues and the economy as a whole.”

However, Aspire Management Services state that in addition to implementing cuts in pay, hours and manpower, bosses should look to increasing their efforts to winning new business and retaining existing clients.

“There have been plenty of studies of previous recessions which have shown that companies that continue to innovate and market themselves during a downturn usually emerge with stronger and with a higher market share,” said Mr Mowat.