Abstract
Decent workplace conditions contribute to positive mental and physical wellness. Due to globalization, demographic changes, and advancements in technology, work has drastically evolved in recent years. People are working longer, and more research studies recognize the adverse health effects of overtime work. The aim of this chapter is to report on the associations between long working hours (LWH) and health, LWH influence on life course, and how LWH can be a potential target for interventions that improve workplace and worker well-being. From increased work-related injuries to mental health disorders, there are observed associations between exposure to LWH and many health conditions, including sleep and metabolic disorders. Evidence from multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses indicates that working 55 or more hours per week results in increased ischemic heart disease and stroke events. The attributable work-related burden of disease, due to LWH exposure, has been carefully estimated, with about 750,000 deaths and 23.3 million disability-adjusted life years from cardiovascular diseases alone, in 2016. Though physiological mechanisms and causal pathways need further exploration in future studies, LWH can be easily measured and used as a single, critical indicator for monitoring adverse working conditions and worker health, especially in resource-challenged settings where collecting precise exposure assessment measures is not feasible. Lastly, LWH may be the appropriate target for interventions at both the individual level, through health promotion, and the organizational level, by advocating for better work environment policies and optimal work hours.
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Fadel, M., Li, J., Sembajwe, G. (2023). Long Working Hours and Health Effects. In: Wahrendorf, M., Chandola, T., Descatha, A. (eds) Handbook of Life Course Occupational Health. Handbook Series in Occupational Health Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94023-2_12-1
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