How Unhealthy is Overtime?
Last updated: 07/09/2006 - 10:45
Working up to one hour a day overtime can actually be good for your health, but only if it allows you to catch up with work you're behind on or get yourself in order for the next day.
The catch is that working overtime is only good for your mental health, not your physical health, and it is only good for you if it does not exceed one hour a day and if it is done by choice. These are among the findings revealed by a large international study of stress at work, involving nearly 7,000 managers across 23 developed countries like the USA and UK and developing ones such as Poland and the Ukraine.
The UK is not alone in having a reputation for working long hours. One in four managers admit to working two or more hours extra per day.
Irrespective of country of origin, the research shows that:
- Twice as many managers work their overtime hours voluntarily as those being forced to work it.
- The burden tends to be greatest among employees not yet at the top of the managerial scale who are older but have been in their current post a short time.
- Hard working and ambitious individuals are likely to be most vulnerable to demands to work overtime. They are also most at risk of a poor lifestyle including little exercise and high cigarette and alcohol consumption.
- Overtime levels fall gradually with progression up the managerial ladder.
More information available in Work Life Balance