Overtime Hours for Office Workers: Health Risks and Job Satisfaction
Extended Work Hours found to pose no health hazard in IW research
Get ready to dive into the world of office jobs and their impact on employee health and job satisfaction! The controversial topic of extended working hours has been under the spotlight recently, and we're here to unpack it all.
According to a widely discussed study by the Institute of the German Economy (IW)—or so we've heard—long working days for office employees may not pose an increased health risk. Surprisingly, employees who work more than ten hours a day get no more exhausted or stressed than those with shorter work hours.
The union and the SPD are planning to shake things up with a reform of the Working Time Act, paving the way for a weekly, instead of daily, maximum working time. This reform aligns with the European Work Time Directive, as the daily working time currently may not exceed eight hours as a rule.
Apparently, office employees don’t mind stretching their daily hours a little bit, as long as it's a voluntary decision. With this extra time, satisfaction with work reportedly remains unchanged. No negative findings in working life have been observed for long daily working hours – such as lower job satisfaction, increased fatigue, or weakened work ability.
But, before you go planning to work 12-hour days with abandon, remember that not every activity is suitable for longer working hours. Safety and health considerations remain essential. However, with office work, a bit more flexibility might be possible.
Trade unions voiced their concerns over deviating from the traditional eight-hour workday, which has been around since 1918. Another analysis by the Hugo Sinzheimer Institute for Labor Law (HSI), affiliated with the trade union-backed Hans-Böckler Foundation, reached a slightly different conclusion: working hours beyond eight hours can jeopardize health[1][2][3].
[1] Based on a recent study analyzing German data discussed the impact of long daily working hours on employee health and job satisfaction, which may be relevant or complementary to IW research.
[2] Research using German panel data shows that employees are less satisfied with life when their actual working hours deviate substantially from their preferred working hours—those who are either overworked or underworked report lower satisfaction compared to those whose working hours align with their preferences.
[3] Other German studies suggest that employees report higher job satisfaction when compensation includes bonuses or profit sharing, indicating that non-wage incentives are important for well-being at work.
[4] Workers in different employment arrangements (gig vs. standard work) show varying levels of mental health and life satisfaction, but these differences are more closely linked to employment type and income stability rather than just working hours. Gig workers with longer hours have similar life satisfaction and mental health to standard employees.
- The Union and the SPD, in their proposed reform of the Working Time Act, aim to prevent workplace-wellness issues that might arise from long working hours, aligning with studies that indicate extended daily hours can potentially jeopardize health and well-being.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, it's essential to consider that while office work might allow a bit more flexibility regarding working hours, it's crucial not to overlook the potential risks posed by science-backed research, suggesting that working hours beyond eight can negatively impact employee health and job satisfaction.
