WHO Research Says Working Long Hours Can Kill You

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that working long hours has killed hundreds of thousands of people every year. This trend is worsening and may accelerate further because of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

In WHO's first global study of the loss of life linked with longer working hours, the paper in the journal Environment International revealed that 745,000 people died from heart disease and stroke connected to long working hours in 2016, an increase of almost 30% from 2000. 

Maria Neira, director of the WHO's Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, stated that working 55 hours or more per week is dangerous and a serious health hazard. She said that with this information, WHO hopes that it can promote more action and protection for workers. 

More about the research

The joint research, organised by the WHO and the International Labour Organisation, pointed out that 72% of the victims were men and were middle-aged or older. Usually, the deaths happened much later in life, sometimes decades after, than the shifts worked. 

The study also revealed that people living in the Western Pacific region (China, Japan and Australia) and Southeast Asia were the most affected. 

In general, the study, which drew on data from 194 nations, stated that compared to a 35-40 hour working week, working 55 hours or more per week is linked with:

• A 35% higher risk of stroke, 
• A 17% higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease.

The research covered the period from 2000 to 2016, therefore, did not include the Covid-19 pandemic. 

This trend is estimated to take a turn for the worse, as more people are working long hours.

The recent pandemic might have made the situation worse

However, WHO officials stated the increase in remote working and the global economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus emergency might have heightened the risks. 

According to WHO, the Covid-19 pandemic is speeding up developments that could feed the trend towards increased working time. The organisation estimates that at least 9% of people work long hours. 

WHO officials, including its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated they have been working long hours throughout the pandemic. According to Neira, the UN agency would try to improve its policy in light of the research.

WHO technical officer Frank Pega said that capping hours would be helpful for employers since that has been shown to improve worker productivity.

He added that it is a wise choice not to increase long working hours during an economic crisis. 

Source: FMT

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