Working Hours

In a telephone survey of 300 leaders of companies with 20 or fewer employees, researchers have learned that small business owners "reported long hours, diminished vacation, and an ever-blurring line separating work from time-off."

The survey was done on behalf of Staples, the office-supply chain.  In a press release, dated today (1/08/07), they breathlessly report that "Time is a critical resource for companies of all sizes, but it's of even greater importance to small business managers, who possess a larger stake in their company's success and often lack the support infrastructure of bigger businesses."  That's according to John Giusti, vice president of Staples Business Delivery, the company's division which specializes in small business sales.

Here's a link to the press release that you can read if you have time.  If you don't have time (and according to the survey you probably don't), I'll give you the short version. 

• You work way more than forty hours per week. 
• Work intrudes on your "personal" time.
• The younger you are and the fewer employees you have, the more hours you're likely to work.

The press release goes on to promote the company as the best place for small businesses to buy their office  products and services.

I hope Staples didn't spend a ton of money on this survey since the "results" are common knowledge to anyone who owns a small business, who has ever owned or worked in a small business, or who has ever worked with small business.

The irony of the whole thing is that much of the extra time put in by small retail business owners is devoted to competing with big box retailers.  Staples was one of the original big box chains and even brags about it in the press release:  "Staples, Inc. invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and today is the world's largest office products company."  2005 sales were $16.1 billion.  They operate more than 1,800 stores.

I wonder how many office supply stores were included in the survey?