09/01/13
By Tim Groves
New research has revealed that tradesmen now work almost as many hours as junior doctors and they often opt for a latte or sushi rather than head to the traditional greasy spoon.
The survey, which was carried out by Grime Boss Heavy Duty Hand Wipes, found that the average tradesman gets just 27 minutes for lunch and 10 per cent choose a healthy salad or sushi but just one per cent have a fry-up.
Only three per cent eat fast food on a regular basis as well and Grime Boss commercial manager Andrew Freeman says that "times have changed" since the 1980s and 90s and today's workmen are very different.
He insists that the stereotypical tendency towards a fry-up is now "as rare as the traditional builder's bum" and also believes that the sight of builders wolf whistling passing girls is also a thing of the past.
The changes can perhaps partly be attributed to the number of hours that they now work, with tradesmen averaging well above the UK average of 42 hours and seven minutes per week at 46 hours and five minutes.
The 1,000-strong poll suggests that a fifth of them are now at work between 6am and 6.30am and the typical day does not end until 5.02pm, which Mr Freeman says shows they are "some of the hardest-working professionals around".
And the image of workmen standing around drinking countless cups of tea has also been disproved as just 47.4 per cent now cite tea as their hot drink of choice, with most preferring coffee and 18.2 per cent even favouring a latte or cappuccino.
Tradesmen are still as prone to drinking tea and coffee as anyone else though, with the average worker knocking back 40,000 cups during their working life. The survey also found that the first cup is drunk by 8.19am on average but 40 per cent have got one in their hand by 7am.
