Can Working Long Hours Affect Your Health?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Epidemiological research has shown that

long working hours affect the risk of cardiovascular diseases

[26,27,28,29], stress, chronic fatigue [30], the probability of stroke [31], anxiety, sleep quality, all-cause mortality, smoking, hypertension, self-perceived health, health behaviors and mental health status [32, 33] …

How many hours is unhealthy work?

“Working

55 hours or more per week

is a serious health hazard,” added Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, at the World Health Organization. “It’s time that we all, governments, employers, and employees wake up to the fact that long working hours can lead to premature death”.

What are the effects of working too much?

Lack of sleep and piling on of undue stress lead to health complications like

high blood pressure, unhealthy eating, and other actions that negatively impact health

. In fact, a study by Stanford and Harvard business schools found that working long hours can increase mortality by nearly 20 percent.

How many hours of work a day is healthy?

In the end, scientists generally agree that the ideal daily working time is around

6 hours

, and more concentrated in the morning.

Can working too much make you sick?

Long hours on the job can literally make employees sick, increasing their odds of depression and heart attacks, according to a new study published by the National Bureau for Economic Research (NBER), Jeff Guo writes for the Washington Post’s “Wonkblog.”

Can working long hours cause stress?

We conclude that

extended working hours cause stress

, which in turn may lead to depression or even suicide. These results are consistent with previous studies [14, 16]. Previous studies showed the association of depression and anxiety with working hours.

How many hours a day is too much work?

Signs of an unhealthy work-life balance. Sure, there are times when work can be stressful like trying to meet a big deadline. But if working

more than 55 hours

has become the norm, you might be suffering from burnout. Here are some signs that you might have an unhealthy work-life balance.

What are the signs of a burnout?

  • Sense of failure and self-doubt.
  • Feeling helpless, trapped, and defeated.
  • Detachment, feeling alone in the world.
  • Loss of motivation.
  • Increasingly cynical and negative outlook.
  • Decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment.

Is working 70 hours a week too much?

But a study in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine shows that consistently surpassing this standard can be detrimental to your health. Researchers found that

working 61 to 70 hours a week increased the risk of coronary heart disease by 42 percent

, and working 71 to 80 hours increased it by 63 percent.

Is working 8 hours a day too much?

NEW!

Eight hours is too long to spend at work

. Recent research says so. The 8-hour workday has been the norm for more than a century, but employee surveys suggest that most people are truly productive only for about three hours every day.

What are the signs of being overworked?

  • Difficulty Relaxing. Difficulty relaxing is a sure sign of being overworked, and maybe even of total job burnout. …
  • Feeling There Are Not Enough Hours in the Day. …
  • Your To-Do List Keeps Growing. …
  • Feeling Like You’ll Never Catch Up. …
  • Your Health Is Visibly Deteriorating.

Are 10 hour shifts healthy?

On the other hand, working 10-hour shifts on a regular basis has some pitfalls. As the Occupational Safety and Health Administration explains, those longer working days and hours can lead to:

Worker Fatigue

.

Increased Levels Of Stress

.

Is working 12 hours a day too much?


Working excessively long days is harmful for your health

. Numerous productivity studies have found that overworking leads to sleep deprivation, depression, impaired memory, drinking problems and health concerns including diabetes and heart disease.

Is 9 hours a day too much?

As per this rule, a nine-hour shift should allow a break of an hour. If you are able to maintain a work-life balance by working nine hours with a break of one hour, managing your social life and family and an optimal health level, it should be okay.

Is working 40 hours a week too much?

Work hours per week: Working too much is bad

“The more time we spend at work the less time we have for other important things in life.” Research suggests that

working excessively long hours — usually this means more than 45 a week — is detrimental to your health, physical and mental, in many ways.

What are the 5 stages of burnout?

  • Honeymoon phase. Like a honeymoon phase in a marriage, this stage comes with energy and optimism. …
  • Onset of stress phase. Eventually, the honeymoon phase dwindles, and you begin to experience stress. …
  • Chronic stress phase. …
  • Burnout phase. …
  • Habitual burnout phase.

Is working 50 hours a week too much?

Workers in the U.S. are logging more hours than ever, with 50 hours per week

no longer considered unusual

. Employees may be working from home after they leave the office, and never are completely “off” work. Overwork can cause physical and mental ailments due to stress.

Is working 12 hours a day healthy?

With 12-hour shifts,

your physical and mental health may be at risk

. Those who work long shifts are more prone to obesity, sleep problems and low energy levels. Certain professions require long shifts due to the on-the-job duties.

Is 11 hours of work too much?

Working too much can take a toll on your mental health. One study found that

workers who logged 11 hours per day were more likely to battle depression than those who worked seven to eight hours.

Can working too much lead to depression?

At the workplace,

the prolonged stress felt by people with long hours is one of the contributing factors to depression

. “Long working hours are likely to be related to less time to relax and less sleep,” says study researcher Marianna Virtanen, PhD.

What are the negative effect of work on health?

Work-related problems can affect our physical, emotional and mental health. Common issues include

job dissatisfaction, workplace injury, stress, discrimination and bullying, violence, accidental death and retirement

. Job loss, retrenchment or unexpected loss of income can also cause distress and hardship.

Is 50 hours a week legal?

Legally,

your employer can’t make you work more than 48 hours a week, including overtime

. If they want you to work more than that, your employer has to ask you to opt out of the 48-hour limit.

What happens if you work everyday?

However, decades of research supports the 40-hour workweek and shows that working longer can lead to serious negative effects on health, family life, and productivity. Studies show that, over time, working long hours can

increase your risk of depression, heart attack, and heart disease

.

Is it healthy to work 7 days a week?

While

working seven days a week can make you feel overworked

, properly balancing your schedule can help you establish a greater work-life balance. Essentially, a schedule allows you to balance your job with family time, leisure activities or daily obligations.

How do I tell my boss I’m burnt out?


Speak up if you need to, and mention burnout by name if your colleagues seem supportive of diverging viewpoints and mental-health struggles

, Dr. Caldwell-Harvey says. But keep it simple. Your manager isn’t your therapist, she adds.

What is trauma fatigue?

Compassion fatigue is a term that describes

the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of helping others — often through experiences of stress or trauma

. Compassion fatigue is often mistaken for burnout, which is a cumulative sense of fatigue or dissatisfaction.

What are the signs of stress?

  • Aches and pains.
  • Chest pain or a feeling like your heart is racing.
  • Exhaustion or trouble sleeping.
  • Headaches, dizziness or shaking.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Muscle tension or jaw clenching.
  • Stomach or digestive problems.
  • Trouble having sex.
James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.