Uncomplaining techies turn in extra hours for free

If you feel like you're spending more time at your desk than ever, you're not alone.

According to a new survey, more and more techies are putting in extra hours. Some 7.3 per cent of techies said they are working between 60 and 75 hours per week - an increase of a third on last year's 3.8 per cent - while 4.8 per cent of IT workers claimed to be notching up 75 hours or more, compared to 2.4 per cent in 2008.

Another 35 per cent of those surveyed by recruiter the IT Job Board claim to be working 48 hours or more every week - up from 2008's figure of 33 per cent.

With the downturn pushing many IT departments to do more with less, it seems ordinary IT workers are bearing the brunt: among techies who have seen an increase in their working hours, the majority attribute growing time spent in the office to their mushrooming workload.

While hours may be on the up, pay cheques aren't heading in a similar direction - 75 per cent of those surveyed said their company doesn't pay overtime.

Despite an increasing workload and a static pay packet, it seems IT workers remain content to bite their tongue - just 18 per cent said they had complained about increased working hours.