Prolonged Labour Hours in IW: Impact on Health Evaluated - Prolonged work hours pose no detrimental impact on health, according to a recent investigation by the Institute for Work.
Let's dive into a recent study by the Institute of the German Economy (IW) in Cologne that challenges the common belief about long working days causing significant health issues for office workers. In a nutshell, the study claims that office employees who work more than ten hours a day don't report any more fatigue or stress symptoms than those working standard hours.
This finding contradicts the popular notion that lengthy daily work durations can lead to burnout or other health problems. The study's authors point towards the German government’s proposed Working Hours Act reform as an opportunity to introduce a weekly maximum working time, shifting focus from daily hours.
According to the study, longer hours for office jobs, when taken voluntarily, don't compromise job satisfaction. Significant negative effects such as reduced work ability, fatigue, and dissatisfaction were not observed, even with very long working days. Interestingly, the self-assessed general health of office workers and the number of sick leave days remained unaffected by longer working days, potentially exceeding ten hours.
However, this research does not extend to all job areas. The IW's evaluation was based on a survey by the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) involving over 8,600 office employees. The results apply specifically to people with office jobs. The authors emphasized that not all activities can be stretched to accommodate longer working hours due to safety and health reasons.
The proposed departure from the eight-hour day, a practice in place since 1918, has drawn criticism from trade unions. Another study by the Hugo Sinzheimer Institute for Labor Law (HSI) of the Hans-Böckler Foundation concluded differently, stating that long hours exceeding eight hours can indeed pose health risks.
Still, if you're an office worker, you might reconsider those extended deadlines, as they might not be as harmful to your health and well-being as previously believed. But remember, this research doesn't apply to all job types, and it's essential to prioritize your health and well-being above work demands whenever possible.
- The proposed Working Hours Act reform could introduce a weekly maximum working time, focusing on the total hours worked per week instead of daily hours, as suggested by the study on office workers and long working days.
- The science behind work-life balance continues to evolve, with a recent study on office workers indicating that longer hours, when taken voluntarily, don't seem to negatively impact job satisfaction, general health, or the number of sick leave days.
- While the focus of the study was on office jobs, policy-and-legislation and politics remain crucial in ensuring workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness for all workers, as evidenced by the differing conclusions drawn by studies on the same topic, such as the one conducted by the Hugo Sinzheimer Institute for Labor Law.
