Over two thirds of owner-managers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) contact the office while on holiday or keep track of emails, a new report suggests.

Data gathered by O2 Ireland found that SME owners are unable to leave their work at home while on holiday, with 67 per cent admitting they contact their office via phone and email while supposedly on holiday.

"Our survey continues to paint a picture of hard working entrepreneurs who work longer hours than their employees, bring work home and find it hard to switch off, even on holiday,� said Billy D'Arcy, the head of business sales and services at O2 Ireland.

Equally, the study showed that 60 per cent of SME owner-managers worked more than 40 hours a week and 78 per cent work at weekends.

"The O2 survey results suggest that many owner managers find it hard to switch off but this by itself is not necessarily unhealthy," added Dr Joan Tiernan, from the UCD School of Psychology.

"Research finds that the biggest cause of stress in the workplace is reporting into a boss. Owner managers in small and medium sized businesses, while they have other stresses, generally value the freedom which their work brings them.

"It is important, however, to be able to switch off and build in recovery time even if you enjoy work."

While this research concentrated on Irish SME owners, research from Travelodge suggests that SME bosses in the UK work just as hard. The hotel company found that company directors typically only sleep for 5.9 hours a night due to work pressure.