British workplaces rank among the worst in Europe for long hours, tight deadlines, and limited autonomy, with no corresponding increase in productivity, according to a report released ahead of the new Labour government’s plan for stricter employer regulations.

The report found that three-fifths of the workforce faced tight deadlines, and two-fifths worked at high speed—some of the highest figures in Europe—while only a third had control over the pace of their work, according to Reuters.

The report was created for the Commission for Healthier Working Lives, an organization established by Britain’s Health Foundation think tank in collaboration with trade unions.

Its goal is to enhance working conditions and advocate for changes in new employment legislation.

“Problem areas to prioritise now are long hours, work intensity and a lack of control or work autonomy,” wrote one of the report’s authors, Jonny Gifford, principal research fellow at the Institute for Employment Studies.

Another co-author of the report and former chief of the Institute for Employment Studies, Tony Wilson, left the organization in October to join the British labor ministry as a senior advisor.

Meanwhile, some businesses are concerned about the new government’s approach and its potential impact on employment policies.

On Monday, the Confederation of British Industry cautioned that stricter employment rules could worsen issues stemming from a sharp rise in social security taxes and the minimum wage.

The CBI predicts these changes could lead to reduced employment, wages, and long-term investment in the economy.

The report highlighted that working conditions differed across sectors, with industries like construction, transport, warehouses, retail, and hospitality facing particularly difficult conditions. Among professional roles, nurses and teachers reported experiencing significant strain.

Much of the data in the report was derived from a 2021 European Union survey on working conditions.

While Britons reported above-average relations with colleagues and managers, they fared less favorably in other areas, such as work-life balance and job security.

“On nearly every measure the UK ranks among the worst in Europe for workplace demands, control at work and job strain,” the report said, adding that around half of Britons said they were exhausted from work.

The report also noted that stress at work had risen over the past 25 years, highlighting a growing concern about mental health and well-being in the workplace.

“Considering the UK’s lower labour productivity compared to peers such as France and Germany, these conditions do not seem justifiable on performance grounds,” it concluded.