Yikes – overwork can kill you:
… those working a 55-hour week face 33% increased risk of stroke than those working a 35- to 40-hour week.
And to make matters worse, all those extra hours don’t even mean you get more work done:
[Overwork] … doesn’t seem to result in more output.
So overwork is killing employees while not improving business results. Can we stop it already?
[…] This is exactly the kind of dinosaur thinking that is so prevalent in business today – and it’s exactly the kind of thinking that is creating a lot of stress, frustration and ultimately poor performance. […]
I quit a job almost two years ago, without another one lined up, because the 60-hour weeks were taking a toll on my health–so much so that a doctor called my schedule “unsustainable and bad for your health” and eventually advised me to leave.
My ex-boss knew about my health issues, and knew about my doctor’s orders to limit my work hours to no more than 40 per week, but refused to allow me to do that. Of course she denied all this when she contested my claim for unemployment.
Because I had documentation of work hours, of conversations with the boss about my health, and of specific effects on my health from stress and overwork (among many other things), the state determined I’d had good cause to quit, and my unemployment claim was approved.
I am now working about 30-35 hours a week while pursuing my passion for writing part-time–and I’m not only much more productive, but also much happier and healthier.
[…] I fully realize that many people are going to dismiss this out of hand. They are stuck in the cult of overwork and totally committed to the idea that working more hours always means getting more work done, even though the research shows that permanent overwork leads to poor health and low performance. […]
I guess it does not come as a surprise how long working hours have a very dangerous effect on our health. Overworking is never a good idea. A number of studies have already proven how overworking does not even translate to “getting more things done”. My work motto–and I often share this to my colleagues on days when they need a good reminder– is to work smarter, not harder.
Khris Villoria
[…] Permanent overwork kills people and hurts results […]
“I can’t believe it – a newsletter actually worth reading!”
– Subscriber
Over 6,000 people subscribe to our newsletter with tons of tips about happiness at work.
“It’s very, very good. It’s incredibly well written, full of insights, and there are exercises to improve your own happiness at work. You can’t ask for more than that!”
– David Maister, author of Practice What You Preach
“What an inspiring book. Every leader should read it. This type of leadership has been integral to our success and I know it will boost your results too.“
– Garry Ridge, CEO WD-40 Company
Over 6,000 people already get our free newsletter with useful tips, videos, links and articles about happiness at work.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.
The Chief Happiness Officer Academy is our most in-depth 3-day training where we share everything we know about creating happier workplaces. Get an in-depth background in happiness at work, hear about the latest research in the field and learn how to use this in your own business.
Leave a Reply