The Financial Times/Harris Poll of Adults in Five European
Countries Reports on What People Think about Working Hours, Pensions and
Retirement
ROCHESTER, N.Y. and LONDON – 21 August, 2006 – Below are the latest
results from the Financial Times/Harris Poll. This FT/Harris Poll
was conducted online by Harris Interactive® among a total of 9,962
adults (aged 16 and over) within Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and
Spain between 2nd and 14th August 2006. (See the tables
below for full details of the sample sizes for each country.)
TABLE 1
"Should the government have the ability to limit the
number of hours a worker can work in one week?"
Base: All adults 16+ from (5) EU countries
|
|
Total |
Country |
|
Great Britain |
France |
Italy |
Spain |
Germany |
|
Unweighted base |
9,962 |
1,936 |
2,050 |
2,011 |
1,946 |
2,019 |
|
Weighted base |
9,962 |
1,936 |
2,050 |
2,011 |
1,947 |
2,018 |
|
Yes |
40% |
34% |
37% |
37% |
72% |
19% |
|
No |
47% |
52% |
52% |
43% |
20% |
65% |
|
Not sure |
14% |
14% |
11% |
20% |
8% |
16% |
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 2
"Would you be prepared to work a longer working week for
more pay?"
Base: All adults 16+ from (5) EU countries employed full-time, part-time or
self employed
|
|
Total |
Country |
|
Great Britain |
France |
Italy |
Spain |
Germany |
|
Unweighted base |
6,728 |
1,204 |
1,293 |
1,477 |
1,444 |
1,310 |
|
Weighted base |
6,342 |
1,134 |
1,228 |
1,427 |
1,298 |
1,254 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Yes |
70 |
63 |
75 |
73 |
64 |
74 |
|
No |
23 |
25 |
20 |
20 |
32 |
16 |
|
Not sure |
7 |
12 |
5 |
8 |
4 |
9 |
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 3
"What is the maximum number of hours you would be
prepared to work regularly in one week if you were compensated
accordingly?"
Base: All adults 16+ from (5) EU countries employed full-time, part-time or
self employed
|
|
Total |
Country |
|
Great Britain |
France |
Italy |
Spain |
Germany |
|
Unweighted base |
6,728 |
1,204 |
1,293 |
1,477 |
1,444 |
1,310 |
|
Weighted base |
6,342 |
1,134 |
1,228 |
1,427 |
1,298 |
1,254 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
0 to 5 |
7 |
1 |
13 |
4 |
13 |
2 |
|
6 to 10 |
6 |
1 |
9 |
7 |
9 |
3 |
|
11 to 15 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
* |
|
16 to 20 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
21 to 25 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
26 to 30 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
|
31 to 35 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
|
36 to 40 |
21 |
20 |
24 |
23 |
17 |
18 |
|
41 to 45 |
21 |
16 |
24 |
17 |
16 |
31 |
|
46 to 50 |
22 |
26 |
14 |
26 |
24 |
23 |
|
51 to 55 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
|
56 to 60 |
9 |
15 |
4 |
9 |
7 |
10 |
|
61 to 65 |
* |
1 |
* |
1 |
* |
* |
|
66 to 70 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
71 to 75 |
1 |
1 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
76 to 80 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
* |
1 |
1 |
|
81 to 85 |
* |
* |
* |
- |
* |
* |
|
86 to 90 |
* |
* |
- |
* |
* |
* |
|
91 to 95 |
* |
* |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
96 to 100 |
* |
1 |
* |
* |
* |
- |
|
101 to 105 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
106 to 110 |
* |
* |
- |
- |
- |
* |
|
111 hours + |
* |
1 |
* |
- |
* |
- |
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 4
"Should governments have the ability to establish
mandatory retirement ages?"
Base: All adults 16+ from (5) EU countries
|
|
Total |
Country |
|
Great Britain |
France |
Italy |
Spain |
Germany |
|
Unweighted base |
9,962 |
1,936 |
2,050 |
2,011 |
1,946 |
2,019 |
|
Weighted base |
9,962 |
1,936 |
2,050 |
2,011 |
1,947 |
2,018 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Yes |
43 |
22 |
42 |
47 |
72 |
34 |
|
No |
48 |
65 |
51 |
45 |
23 |
54 |
|
Not sure |
9 |
13 |
6 |
8 |
5 |
12 |
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 5
"Would you consider working beyond your country’s
official retirement age, even on a part-time basis?"
Base: All adults 16+ from (5) EU countries employed full-time, part-time or
self employed
|
|
Total |
Country |
|
Great Britain |
France |
Italy |
Spain |
Germany |
|
Unweighted base |
6,728 |
1,204 |
1,293 |
1,477 |
1,444 |
1,310 |
|
Weighted base |
6,342 |
1,134 |
1,228 |
1,427 |
1,298 |
1,254 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Yes |
58 |
72 |
41 |
67 |
52 |
56 |
|
No |
28 |
15 |
39 |
22 |
37 |
26 |
|
Not sure |
14 |
14 |
20 |
11 |
11 |
18 |
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 6A
"Do you worry that your employer will change the terms of
your pension before you retire?"
Base: All adults 16+ from (5) EU countries employed full-time, part-time or
self employed
|
|
Total |
Country |
|
Great Britain |
France |
Italy |
Spain |
Germany |
|
Unweighted base |
6,728 |
1,204 |
1,293 |
1,477 |
1,444 |
1,310 |
|
Weighted base |
6,342 |
1,134 |
1,228 |
1,427 |
1,298 |
1,254 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Yes |
49 |
41 |
33 |
72 |
43 |
51 |
|
No |
19 |
21 |
15 |
14 |
17 |
28 |
|
Not sure |
10 |
8 |
15 |
7 |
6 |
13 |
|
I do not have a pension |
22 |
30 |
36 |
7 |
33 |
9 |
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 6B
"Do you worry that your employer will change the terms of
your pension before you retire?"
Base: All adults 16+ from (5) EU countries employed full-time, part-time or
self employed
|
Note: Base excludes those who do not have a pension.
|
Total |
Country |
|
Great Britain |
France |
Italy |
Spain |
Germany |
|
Unweighted base |
5,236 |
861 |
854 |
1,384 |
945 |
1,192 |
|
Weighted base |
4,920 |
791 |
785 |
1,334 |
863 |
1,148 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Yes |
63 |
58 |
52 |
77 |
65 |
56 |
|
No |
24 |
30 |
24 |
15 |
25 |
31 |
|
Not sure |
13 |
12 |
24 |
8 |
10 |
14 |
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 7
"Do you have enough paid annual leave in a year?"
Base: All adults 16+ from (5) EU countries employed full-time, part-time or
self employed
|
|
Total |
Country |
|
Great Britain |
France |
Italy |
Spain |
Germany |
|
Unweighted base |
6,728 |
1,204 |
1,293 |
1,477 |
1,444 |
1,310 |
|
Weighted base |
6,342 |
1,134 |
1,228 |
1,427 |
1,298 |
1,254 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Yes |
61 |
50 |
68 |
62 |
54 |
69 |
|
No |
35 |
45 |
30 |
32 |
43 |
28 |
|
Not sure |
4 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 8
"On average, do you typically take your paid annual leave
in full?"
Base: All adults 16+ from (5) EU countries employed full-time, part-time or
self employed
|
|
Total |
Country |
|
Great Britain |
France |
Italy |
Spain |
Germany |
|
Unweighted base |
6,728 |
1,204 |
1,293 |
1,477 |
1,444 |
1,310 |
|
Weighted base |
6,342 |
1,134 |
1,228 |
1,427 |
1,298 |
1,254 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Yes |
62 |
70 |
81 |
16 |
74 |
74 |
|
No |
38 |
30 |
19 |
84 |
26 |
26 |
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 9
"In your opinion, which is a better place to work?"
Base: All adults 16+ from (5) EU countries
|
|
Total |
Country |
|
Great Britain |
France |
Italy |
Spain |
Germany |
|
Unweighted base |
9,962 |
1,936 |
2,050 |
2,011 |
1,946 |
2,019 |
|
Weighted base |
9,962 |
1,936 |
2,050 |
2,011 |
1,947 |
2,018 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Europe |
51 |
39 |
57 |
43 |
60 |
57 |
|
US |
12 |
11 |
10 |
20 |
6 |
12 |
|
Both are equal |
11 |
11 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
|
Not sure |
26 |
40 |
22 |
25 |
23 |
19 |
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 10
"In your opinion, which is the best European country in
which to work?"
Base: All adults 16+ from (5) EU countries
|
|
Total |
Country |
|
Great Britain |
France |
Italy |
Spain |
Germany |
|
Unweighted base |
9,962 |
1,936 |
2,050 |
2,011 |
1,946 |
2,019 |
|
Weighted base |
9,962 |
1,936 |
2,050 |
2,011 |
1,947 |
2,018 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Germany |
8% |
5% |
6% |
9% |
11% |
11% |
|
France |
8% |
6% |
26% |
3% |
5% |
2% |
|
U.K. (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) |
8% |
19% |
7% |
9% |
4% |
2% |
|
Spain |
7% |
4% |
3% |
5% |
20% |
2% |
|
Sweden |
5% |
2% |
5% |
5% |
6% |
9% |
|
Switzerland |
5% |
2% |
3% |
5% |
4% |
10% |
|
Italy |
2% |
1% |
* |
9% |
1% |
* |
|
Netherlands |
2% |
2% |
* |
2% |
2% |
4% |
|
Norway |
2% |
* |
1% |
1% |
2% |
4% |
|
Denmark |
2% |
1% |
1% |
2% |
1% |
3% |
Note: Table shows top-10 mentions; therefore percentages will not add up to
100%
TABLE 11
"Which one, if any, of the following countries do you
think is the greatest threat to global stability?"
Base: All adults 16+ from (5) EU countries
|
|
Totals |
Aug-06 By Country |
|
Jun-06 |
Jul-06 |
Aug-06 |
Great Britain |
France |
Italy |
Spain |
Germany |
|
Weighted base |
5,409 |
2,623 |
9,962 |
1,936 |
2,050 |
2,011 |
1,946 |
2,019 |
|
Unweighted base |
5,440 |
2,564 |
9,962 |
1,936 |
2,050 |
2,011 |
1,947 |
2,018 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
U.S. |
36 |
30 |
30 |
36 |
28 |
21 |
44 |
24 |
|
Iran |
30 |
17 |
23 |
19 |
24 |
31 |
15 |
24 |
|
China |
18 |
12 |
15 |
10 |
21 |
19 |
14 |
13 |
|
Iraq |
* |
13 |
14 |
12 |
10 |
13 |
15 |
18 |
|
North Korea |
4 |
20 |
8 |
14 |
8 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
|
Russia |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
|
Other |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
None |
8 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
9 |
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding
*Less than 0.5 percent.
Methodology
This FT/Harris Poll was conducted online by Harris Interactive among a total
of 9,962 adults (aged 16 and over) within Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy,
and Spain (see tables for individual country bases) between 2nd and 14th August
2006. Figures for age, sex, education, region and Internet usage were weighted
where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the
population. Propensity score weighting was used to adjust for respondents’
propensity to be online. Both unweighted and weighted bases are shown, and
results/percentages represented are weighted.
All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include: sampling
error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed); measurement error
due to question wording and/or question order, deliberately or unintentionally
inaccurate responses, nonresponse (including refusals), interviewer effects
(when live interviewers are used) and weighting.
With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result
cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite
"margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should be
avoided.
With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is
possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other
sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability
sample of 9,962 one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the
overall results have a sampling error of +/-1 percentage point. However that
does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not
based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be
calculated.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National
Council on Public Polls.
J 5800 - August Pan Euro
Q3000, 3005, 3010, 3015, 3020, 3025, 3030, 3035, 3040, 3045, 3050, 3053
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To become a member of the Harris Poll Online, visit www.harrispollonline.com.
Press Contact:
Nancy Wong
Harris Interactive
585-214-7316
nwong@harrisinteractive.com
|
