Working 55-hour week increases risk of death: UN

The pandemic could lead to increased working hours

The pandemic could lead to increased working hours

Working more than 55 hours a week increases the risk of death from heart disease and strokes, according to a United Nations study out Monday.

The report by the UN's World Health Organization and International Labour Organization agencies comes as the Covid-19 pandemic accelerates workplace changes that could increase the tendency to work longer hours.

It focuses on the period before the pandemic, and the authors synthesised data from dozens of studies involving hundreds of thousands of participants.

"It's time that we all -- governments, employers, and employees -- wake up to the fact that long working hours can lead to premature death."

- 'Higher amongst men' -

Between 2000 and 2016, the number of deaths due to heart disease linked to long working hours increased by 42 percent, while the figure for strokes went up by 19 percent.

"With working long hours now known to be responsible for about one-third of the total estimated work-related burden of disease, it is established as the risk factor with the largest occupational disease burden," the WHO said.

However, the burden of disease is particularly high among men -- who account for 72 percent of the deaths -- because they represent a large proportion of workers worldwide and therefore the exposure "is higher amongst men", Pega told reporters.

- 'Not worth the risk' -

The organisation also said that the coronavirus crisis was speeding up developments that could feed the trend towards increased working hours.

"Teleworking has become the norm in many industries, often blurring the boundaries between home and work. In addition, many businesses have been forced to scale back or shut down operations to save money, and people who are still on the payroll end up working longer hours.

Citing a study by the US National Bureau of Economic Research, conducted across 15 countries, Pega said: "When countries go into national lockdown, the numbers of hours work increased by about 10 percent."

The pandemic has also increased job insecurity, which, in times of crisis, tends to push those who have kept their jobs to work more to prove their place in a more competitive market, said Pega.

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