Hard work, in our society, is recognized and rewarded. In many industries and organizations, the hard worker who stays behind when everyone else has left and he or she who is first before the rest arrives is seen as more dedicated or more hardworking.
We’ve read reports about office employees dropping dead from exhaustion or falling sick and then eventually dying because of overwork. I remember reading a couple of news items about workers in advertising agencies who did far too many hours of overtime even when they were already feeling ill. There have been reports of the same thing happening to call-center agents, known for unnatural work schedules that often lead to fatigue and sleep deprivation.
Japan is also known for its long work hours, and here at home, the phenomenon is not unheard of. More recently, the entertainer Chokoleit died after a live show. It was obvious in the video that circulated online that he was already feeling unwell while he was onstage. This work culture is also seen in the US, China, Korea and other countries.
There are employees and bosses in certain organizations who raise their eyebrows at people who try to finish the day’s work on time so he or she can go home to the family on the dot. Those who shirk overtime are criticized when, in fact, studies have shown that many of those who are able to finish the day’s work at the end of a work day are actually more efficient and better at time management. Some sources go on to suggest that some of those who do overtime are actually the inefficient workers.
The wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine dictates that human beings need to be in deep sleep for a certain period of time each night so that the body’s organs can regenerate or be reenergized. Some doctors advise that bedtime should be at 10 p.m. so that we can reach deep sleep status by around midnight. The body needs to be at rest from this time until about 3 in the morning, for optimum health.
Experts have suggested a cut-down on the number of working days and/or working hours. This is something that our lawmakers and even the private and public institutions and organizations must look at. Definitely, there is a need to increase efforts to make more people aware of the dangers of stress and overwork. Work-life balance and the welfare of workers must be prioritized.
As a society, the way we view overtime, stress and workaholics must change. Overall health, work-life balance and the general well-being of workers must be given more value in our fast-paced work environment. In the end, healthy workers are more effective and more productive.