The majority of Irish professionals (73%) work longer than their contracted hours, with about one-in-five working a full extra three months a year.

That is according to the Morgan McKinley Working Hours Survey, published today by the recruiting consultancy.

The research was conducted in February 2016 among over 2,700 employees across a variety of professional sectors including accounting and finance, financial services, technology, engineering, science and office support.

Some 60% of respondents hold middle management, senior management or senior leadership roles - in total, 10% hold leadership roles. 40% of the respondents hold executive level and entry level roles.

The survey also found that 62% of employees feel obligated to work longer than their contracted hours, with more than four of every five saying they were not compensated for that work.

Source: Morgan McKinley

Some 43% felt they were more productive in the extra hours worked than in the normal working day, with 75% citing fewer disruptions as the reason.

Nearly half (48%) believe flexible working arrangements will make their working lives easier.

And 36% currently have the option of working from home, with 44% of employees having a flexible start/finish time

Only 4% of professionals said, however, that remote working was formally offered as part of company policy - with just over half of professionals saying it was offered on a discretionary or occasional basis.

Morgan McKinley's director of inward investment, Trayc Keevans, told Newstalk Breakfast self-interruption was a big issue.