Workaholic parents and the British culture of long working hours are having a 'disasterous effect' on family life. A report by the pressure group Working Families found that long working hours 'short-changed families', leading to parents becoming more stressed and unhealthy as a result.

The survey of 646 working parents found that more than half felt that working long hours was necessary to get the job done. 46% said that work commitments prevented them from putting their children to bed and more than half (56%) said that it interfered with them helping their children with homework.

'This disturbing report shows us that binge-working is turning us into a nation of workaholics,' said Sarah Jackson, chief executive of Working Families. 'We need to work shorter, leaner hours and make time for our families and communities.'

Cary Cooper, Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at Lancaster University and co-author of the study, also warned that long working hours were likely to damage both children's and parent's health. 'Government policy drives to increase the health and fitness of children and adults are unlikely to be assisted by a workforce which is too timestarved to actively participate in such matters.'

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