Entrepreneurs in the UK are amongst the most overworked, with 24% taking no annual leave compared to only 5% of permanent workers, a new survey claims.

The ICM poll of 2033 adults across the UK, commissioned by cloud-based accountancy service Boox, also found that almost half of all self-employed workers continued to work whilst on holiday compared to just 23% of permanent workers, with entrepreneurs also twice as likely to check work emails during holidays.

Despite this, self-employed workers remained largely optimistic about their work-life balance, with 56% comparing it favourably to those in full-time employment. 35% of entrepreneurs also stated that flexible working hours remained a major benefit to self-employed working.

Philip Venn, Managing Director of Boox, commented: “The reality is that when we are in charge of our own business the stresses and strains of securing our next contract or missing a deadline play a much greater role in our lives.

This makes it harder to take time out and if we do manage to get away, retreat anxiety makes it that much more difficult to switch off from our work life.”