A recent study from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that overworking are killing hundreds of thousands of people a year.
The journal Environment International published the first global study researching the issue back in 2016. The result of the study from back then revealed that 745,000 people died from a stroke and heart disease. Long working hours during the year are among the reasons for the disease. This figure, unfortunately, notes a nearly 30% rise from 2000.
Upon this, director of the WHO’s Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, Maria Neira said, “Working 55 hours or more per week is a serious health hazard”.
“What we want to do with this information is promote more action, more protection of workers,” she added.
The study is a result of the WHO and the International Labour Organization joint study. Accordingly, victims of this incident are mostly men of middle-age or older. Though the deaths often occurred much later in life, even decades-long.
Research also disclosed that people living in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific Region, which includes China, Japan and Australia, are more prone to suffer from death by overworking.
Overworking and deaths: prevention
The study noted that over 55 working hours a week contribute to a higher risk of stroke and heart disease. Noted from Reuters, people from 194 countries where the data were taken had a consecutively 35% and 17% higher risk of stroke and ischemic heart disease. Meanwhile, people who work 35-40 hour a week have stronger resistance to the diseases.
The study did not observe how the work culture during the COVID-19 pandemic towards workers’ health as it covered the period 2000-2016. WHO officials, though, suggest that remote working and the global economic slowdown may increase the risk.
With the estimation that at least 9% of people work long hours, the WHO said, “The pandemic is accelerating developments that could feed the trend towards increased working time”.
During the pandemic, WHO workers, including its leader Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, claimed to have worked long hours. In relation to this, Neira said the U.N. agency would review the policy in light of the study.
A technical officer at WHO, Frank Pega, suggested capping hours as a solution. Recent research has proven that short working hours increase worker productivity instead.
“It’s really a smart choice not to increase long working hours in an economic crisis.”
Read also: Jeff Bezos’ Opinion About the Fate of Amazon Workers’ Union
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