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Extended working hours and health
Britta Raediker1, Daniela Janssen, Carsten Schomann
1Gesellschaft für Arbeits-, Wirtschafts- und Organisationspsychologische Forschung e.V. (GAWO), Oldenburg, Germany.
Chronobiology International
|December 28, 2006
Summary
Working longer hours correlates with increased health issues, including musculoskeletal and psycho-vegetative complaints. This relationship is consistent across various conditions, suggesting caution with extended working hours.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
- Sociology of Work
Background:
- The modern workplace often involves long working hours.
- Understanding the health impacts of working hours is crucial for employee well-being.
- Previous research indicates potential links between work duration and health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To statistically analyze the correlation between weekly working hours and health complaints.
- To investigate the types of health impairments associated with extended working hours.
- To examine moderating factors influencing the work hours-health relationship.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from a 2000 European survey on working conditions.
- Performed statistical analyses to determine correlations.
- Examined individual (e.g., age) and situational (e.g., shift-work) variables as moderators.
Main Results:
- A substantial correlation exists between the number of weekly working hours and the frequency of health complaints.
- Both musculoskeletal disorders and psycho-vegetative complaints are significantly associated with longer working hours.
- Individual and situational factors can moderate the effects of working hours on health.
Conclusions:
- There is a consistent, functional relationship between working hours and adverse health effects.
- Extended working hours pose a significant risk to worker health.
- Requests for increasing working hours should be approached with caution due to documented health risks.
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