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The Detrimental Effects of Extended Working Hours on Health
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Abstract
The continuous debate regarding prolonged working hours has attracted substantial
attention in today's dynamic workplaces, demanding a severe evaluation of its tremendous
impact on people's health. The intricate relationships between lengthy work hours, increased
stress, persistent weariness, and overall health decline are worth investigating. The study
sheds light on the complicated relationship between prolonged work schedules and negative
health consequences, underlining the importance of a nuanced understanding and preemptive
interventions. The debate emphasizes the increase in stress levels associated with longer
working hours, backed by studies indicating a direct correlation and structural equation
modeling illustrating the psycho-vegetative health problems caused by extended work hours.
Furthermore, it investigates how long work hours contribute to chronic weariness, posing a
severe threat to both physical and mental health. The evidence presented, including
systematic reviews and research concentrating on the mental health of certain professions,
contradicts the notion of health benefits associated with longer work hours, refuting
arguments emphasizing the necessity of prolonged hours for optimal performance.
Prioritizing the workforce's well-being becomes increasingly crucial as workplaces adapt,
necessitating a reevaluation of present working hour laws to build a sustainable and
supportive professional environment.
Keywords
: Extended working hours, Health impacts, Stress, Chronic fatigue, Workforce well-
being
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The Detrimental Effects of Extended Working Hours on Health
Today's workplaces are constantly changing, and the fight over longer hours has
become very important. People are talking about how this affects their health in severe ways.
As people are constantly told to be more productive, the effects of long work hours on both
physical and mental health become essential things to think about. This piece details the
harmful effects of working longer hours, looking at the complicated links between longer
work hours and increased stress, chronic fatigue, and worsening health in general. The
complicated link between long work hours and bad health is revealed by looking at many
relevant studies by researchers like Raediker et al., Harrington, Wirtz, and Nachreiner.
Recognizing the urgent need to handle and lessen the adverse effects of long work hours
becomes more critical as society tries to find the right balance between workplace efficiency
and the well-being of the workforce.
Extended Working Hours and Stress
Several studies have shown that working longer hours dramatically affects stress
levels. An investigation into the health effects of longer work hours found a direct link
between longer work hours and higher amounts of stress (Raediker et al., 2006). There is also
much talk about how shift work and long hours can stress people, emphasizing how
important it is to solve this issue (Harrington, 2001). A structural equation modeling study
also found that working long hours, including nights, weekends, and shifts, can hurt your
mental and physical health (Wirtz & Nachreiner, 2010). This large body of study emphasizes
the complex link between longer work hours and rising stress levels in individuals. It shows
the need for a more in-depth understanding and proactive steps to reduce the health risks that
come with this.
Prolonged Working Hours and Chronic Fatigue
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As relevant studies show, long work hours significantly cause chronic fatigue and a
significant threat to overall health. Comparative research shows a strong link between longer
work hours and lower social well-being, which is a sign of harmful effects on mental health
(Wirtz & Nachreiner, 2010). This comparison shows how long work hours hurt people in
more ways than just making them physically tired. They also affect their mental health in
more significant ways. Studies also talk about health and safety problems that come with
working long hours, focusing on the harmful effects of being tired 1997 (Spurgeon et al.). A
thorough review of the evidence shows that working longer hours can tire people, harming
their health. By showing how long work hours and chronic fatigue are connected in complex
ways, these studies show how long work hours can pose many health risks. This makes it
even more important to take thorough steps to deal with and lessen these adverse effects
immediately.
Counterargument and Refutation: Necessity for Optimal Work Performance
Some people say that working longer hours is necessary for doing a good job, but
much study shows that this is not true, which shows that working longer hours is bad for your
health. Strong proof from a systematic review shows that working long hours is strongly
linked to adverse health effects (Bannai & Tamakoshi, 2014). They examined the existing
research to show that working longer hours is optional. This shows the importance of putting
health first at work over other things. Also, focusing on the mental health of doctors who
work long hours shows strong evidence against the common belief that working longer suits
your general health (Bondagji et al., 2022). Some people say that working longer hours is
good for you, but a review of the health and safety issues that come with it shows that it is
terrible for you, making you more stressed and tired (Spurgeon et al., 1997). These results
make it less likely that working longer hours is a good idea from a health point of view. This
shows that current workplace practices need to be reevaluated.
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Conclusion
The large amount of study that was looked at in this discussion clearly shows that
working longer hours is bad for people's health. Much research shows that working longer
hours is linked to more stress, mental and physical health problems, and a lower quality of
life when it comes to health. Even though some argue that longer work hours are necessary
for peak performance, the strong proof strongly contradicts these claims. The link between
working long hours and lousy health effects, especially on mental health, goes against what
most people think about the supposed benefits of working longer hours. The workforce's
well-being must be a top priority as we deal with a changing professional environment.
Finding a balance between health and work is not only the right thing to do, but it is also
necessary for making the workplace sustainable and supportive. The evidence suggests that
current working hour policies should be looked at again, focusing on the need for
comprehensive measures to protect employees' physical and mental health for a healthier and
more stable professional future.
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References
Bannai, A., & Tamakoshi, A. (January 2014). The association between long working hours
and health: A systematic review of epidemiological evidence. Scandinavian Journal of
Work, Environment & Health, 40(1), 5–18.
DOI:
10.5271/sjweh.3388
Bondagji, D., Fakeerh, M., Alwafi, H., & Khan, A. A. (2022). The Effects of Long Working
Hours on Mental Health Among Resident Physicians in Saudi Arabia. Frontiers in
Psychiatry, 12, 791187. DOI:
10.2147/PRBM.S370642
Harrington, J. M. (2001). Health effects of shift work and extended hours of work.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 58(1), 68–72. DOI:
10.4236/ojepi.2021.111002
Hong, Q. N., Gonzalez-Reyes, A., & Pluye, P. (2022). Improving the usefulness of a tool for
appraising the quality of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies the
Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice,
18(4), 812–818. DOI:
10.1111/jep.12884
Raediker, B., Janßen, D., Schomann, C., & Nachreiner, F. (2006). Extended Working Hours
and Health. Journal of Occupational Health, 48(1), 1–13. DOI:
10.1080/07420520601096245
Spurgeon A, Harrington JM, Cooper CL. (1997). Health and safety problems associated with
long working hours: a review of the current position. Occupational and Environmental
Medicine, 54(6), 367–375. DOI:
10.1136/oem.54.6.367
Wirtz, A., & Nachreiner, F. (2010). The Effects of Extended Working Hours on Health and
Social Well-being—A Comparative Analysis of Four Independent Samples.
Chronobiology International, 27(5), 1072–1092. DOI:
10.3109/07420528.2010.490099
Wong, K., Chan, A. H. S., Ngan, S. C., & Wong, M. C. S. (2019). Are Long Working Hours
Associated with Occupational Health in Hong Kong? International Journal of
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Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(11), 1957. DOI:
10.3390/ijerph16122102