Britons are working too hard and their home lives are suffering, according to a new survey.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has found that one-fifth of people are working over 48 hours a week, despite a European Union working time directive to fight excessive hours.

Britain has an average working week of 43.6 hours, the longest in the EU. Of those who worked over 48 hours a week, two-fifths said it had caused them to argue with their partner, and 34 per cent said it made them shout at their children.

Over half of those interviewed said their sex lives suffered from hard work. Self-employed people, office managers, and professionals were found to be spending the most time at work. Mental exhaustion and difficulty sleeping were the most common illnesses in people who worked long hours.

The report's author, Melissa Compton-Edwards, said that many people had entered into a 'Faustian' pact over their working hours. While people would prefer their partner to work less, long hours were considered 'a price worth paying if it guarantees a decent standard of living'.