People who work for themselves are HAPPIER despite long hours and greater uncertainty

Study found that those who were self-employed were among the most engaged
They also found these people experienced more opportunities for innovation
Non-managerial company workers were the least satisfied and engaged

By Press Association and Cheyenne Macdonald For Dailymail.com

Published: 14:14 GMT, 15 March 2018 | Updated: 15:58 GMT, 15 March 2018

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Being your own boss might be even better for you than it sounds.

While self-employment is known to come with a number of stresses, including long hours and more uncertainty, new research has found that people who work in this way tend to be happier with their jobs.

A study of more than 5,000 people from various fields around the world revealed that self-employed workers tend to be more engaged, take on bigger challenges, and meet higher standards.

The research carried out by experts from the universities of Sheffield and Exeter showed self-employed people felt more engaged with their work, predominantly because they enjoyed more freedom to innovate and influence their working environments.

Academics studied data collected from 5,000 workers in the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand across a number of sectors – including heath, finance and education.

Further analysis was undertaken of employees across four job grades – non-managerial workers, supervisors, middle managers and senior managers and directors.

The self-employed workers who took part in the research worked in a range of sectors, including management consultancy, financial services, retail, education, insurance and real estate.

The study found that those who were self-employed were not only amongst the most engaged but also experienced greater opportunities for innovation, achieving challenging targets and meeting high standards.

A study of more than 5,000 people from various fields around the world revealed that self-employed workers tend to be more engaged, take on bigger challenges, and meet higher standards. Stock image

Non-managerial company workers were the least satisfied and engaged.

Co-author Professor Ilke Inceoglu, from the University of Exeter Business School, said: 'Being engaged in their jobs makes people feel energised and pleased with their own contribution.

'Measuring how engaged people are in their work is therefore a really useful way to gauge their wellbeing and shows we must move beyond just looking at job satisfaction.'

DOES WORKING FROM HOME MAKE YOU MORE PRODUCTIVE?

Employees who work remotely are actually likely to be more productive, according to a recent study led by the University of Cardiff.

Those who work from home put in more hours than if they were in the office, and are more likely to go above and beyond what is required.

There are more than four million people in Britain who spend at least half their time working from home, according to the latest figures.

Those who work from home put in more hours than if they were in the office and are more likely to go above and beyond what is required (stock image)

The researchers examined the responses of around 15,000 working people supplied in 2001, 2006 and 2012.

Professor Alan Felstead, the study’s lead author, from Cardiff University’s School of Social Sciences, said: ‘The evidence suggests that remote workers are over-compensating to prove to their colleagues they are not in their pyjamas at home and prove to their employers they are a safe pair of hands willing to go the extra mile in return for the discretion an employer gives them to work at home or in a remote location.’

Co-author Professor Peter Warr, from the University of Sheffield, added: 'Professional workers who are self-employed really value the autonomy they have.

'They have the freedom to innovate, express their own views, have influence beyond their own role and compete with other companies and people.

'They really get to use their own expertise, so don't seem to mind working long hours. They can find meeting high standards really fulfilling.'

The study, Work orientations, well-being and job content of self-employed and employed professionals, is published in the journal Work, Employment and Society.