Working excessive hours is bad for your company, according to a Sussex business leader.

Simon Small says long hours can cause resentment and frustration and prove counter productive.

Mr Small, managing director of Waterson Communications and spokesman for the Sussex branch of the Institute of Directors, said: "Employees and employers need to apply common sense.

Unhappy and resentful employees will not be productive, efficient, effective or co-operative and there is likely to be a high staff turnover.

"In these days of skills shortages, many companies go to considerable lengths to retain staff, motivate them and foster commitment, although there are times when bosses have to demand more from employees.

"Poor conditions, excessive hours and a lack of recognition of life's pleasures away from the workplace are inappropriate and will lead to poor performance and even business failure."

Mr Small was responding to research that showed 73 per cent of managers complained of an increase in workload over the last year and of working more than 50 hours a week.

Speaking for the IoD, he said: "On the whole, people are not working unacceptable hours against their will.

"There is much employee satisfaction with work and the suggestion of a stress epidemic is grossly exaggerated.

"Britain already has many flexible working practices and the push for many more can be sentimentalist and unrealistic.

"It is worth remembering employees are paid for their work and that employees enter into employment contracts which specify terms and conditions.

"Clearly, employees and employers have obligations to one another as well as rights."

The IoD recognised there were rogue employers who treated staff poorly and would never condone their behaviour.

"Frankly, these people are likely to be impervious to exhortation and regulation anyway."