Working more than 39 hours per week bad for health

[Cold Pizza]

Yeah, yeah. "Study A, Study B," but I think this reinforces my premise that people in the West work too much. I understand in many parts of the world people have to work a lot more.

A question for TDers: back in the West, how many hours did you work per week at times, or on average:

Me: minimum 40 in the US, but at times 45ish.



Study: Working More Than 39 Hours A Week Harmful To Mental Health

3Feb - by Daniel Steingold - 31 - In Brain Studies Health Studies Money Studies

CANBERRA, Australia — Employers take note: having your staff work overtime could be doing more harm than good. A new study finds that working more than 39 hours a week is actually detrimental to one’s health.


Working more than 39 hours per week can pose significant health risks, especially for women, researchers found.

Published in the Social Science & Medicine journal, researchers from Australian National University compiled previously-released government data from about 8,000 employed Australian men and women aged 24 to 64.

The researchers found on average that 40 or more hours of work a week — typically considered full-time employment— can lead to mental health issues. This was especially true when combined with other commitments.

In large part due to additional time constraints, such as caregiving, it was found that the average healthy work limit for women was only 34 hours a week. For men, the limit was found to be as high as 47 hours a week.

“Given the extra demands placed on women, it’s impossible for women to work long hours often expected by employers unless they compromise their health,” lead researcher Huong Dinh told PS News.

This study helps shatter a widely-held belief that it is healthy to work up to 48 hours a week. That theory based upon an 80-year-old standard set by the International Labour Organization.

One conclusion that can be taken from the study is that women are disadvantaged in many senses in the workforce. Since they cannot work for as many hours without compromising their health, men often get better and higher paying positions.

In Australia, over 40% of employed individuals work 40-plus hours a week.

https://www.studyfinds.org/study-fin...mental-health/

[jimbobs]

I average about 70 -80 pw and take off one weekend a month
But I try to do this for a maximum of 6 months at a time
Couldn't live on 40 hrs a week

[VocalNeal]

I think the French only work 35! Then go home and have a life.

[NZdick1983]

That's the beauty of being self-employed. I can earn as much as my wife's full weekly wage, in as little as half a day.

Why work for a school *for instance, when you can teach privately and maximize your profit, while being efficient with your time.

Work smarter, not harder.

[Hugh Cow]

I'll restrict Lady cow to 39 hours in the kitchen in future.

[Troy]

Either this is a half baked study provided by cold pizza or I lost my sanity many moons ago.

I'll plump for the former.

[Stretchy]

Gambia has only 36 hours a week working.

[Cold Pizza]

This a comparison between Europe and the US:

[Pragmatic]

My last job was in local Government'. A guy once asked me how many people worked at my depot. I replied honestly 'about half of them'.

[jimbobs]

That's the beauty of being self-employed. I can earn as much as my wife's full weekly wage, in as little as half a day.

Why work for a school *for instance, when you can teach privately and maximize your profit, while being efficient with your time.

Work smarter, not harder.

I had 20 odd men working for me 10 years ago
I don't get half the hassle and I am not too far off what I earned in a good year
You can get very good days and bad
The recession here was a killer in 2008 companies going bankrupt left right and centre
I was lucky I got a great job in Mexico
Others lost their shirt

[redhaze]

I currently work right around 125 hours a week. About 30 hours of that time is breaks for sleep, done on the job.

Most people work 40 hours a week. I get 40 hours a week off LMAO.

Won't last forever though....

[Cold Pizza]

I currently work right around 125 hours a week. About 30 hours of that time is breaks for sleep, done on the job.

Most people work 40 hours a week. I get 40 hours a week off LMAO.

Won't last forever though....

You know your body and mind. You know what to put on the breaks, if you can.

I believe your running your own biz, so I understand.

[CaptainNemo]

Depends what you do. When you work on a ship, you live there, your time off is not really anything like time off at home as landlubbers experience it.
At sea, you may only work up to 77 hours per 7-day week; usually in 4-hour chunks, and you have to fill in Hours of Rest forms to make sure you are within limits. Safety being such a priority that it's rarely a problem to say you can't do a particular shift for some safety-related bureaucracy reason. At least, you get it all over with in a chunk, and can have a large chunk of leave... then some sneer as though you're skiving!