Working More Than 40 Hours a Week
Studies suggest there are health-related side effects to working overtime.
There is a link between working long hours and developing symptoms of depression and anxiety, according to a 2017 study in Occupational Medicine. This study suggests: “longer working hours are associated with poorer mental health status and increasing levels of anxiety and depression symptoms.” The study also found a link between longer working hours and sleep problems.
Working more than 52 hours per week could even lead to premature hair loss, according to a study published in the Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine journal. Researchers found that men who spent more than 52 hours per week in the office lost their hair at twice the speed of those who worked fewer than 40 hours. The study, which examined more than 13,000 men, pointed to stress as a likely factor, since the hormones we release when stressed can inhibit hair growth.
Vocabulary:
health-related side effects – (noun/plural) secondary, typically undesirable consequences affecting physical or mental well-being, “Sedentary office jobs often come with health-related side effects like back pain and poor circulation.”
working overtime – (expression/gerund) spending more hours at work than what is standard or agreed upon in an employment contract, “She has been working overtime every day this week to finish the quarterly financial report.”
developing symptoms – (expression) starting to show physical or mental signs of an illness, medical condition, or psychological state, “If you start developing symptoms of a cold, it is best to stay home and rest.”
associated with – (phrasal verb/adjective) connected to or linked with something else, “High sugar consumption is closely associated with an increased risk of dental cavities.”
mental health status – (noun) the current state of someone’s psychological, emotional, and social well-being, “Regular check-ins with employees can help managers monitor their team’s mental health status.”
sleep problems – (noun/plural) difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting restful sleep, “Stress at work is a major cause of chronic sleep problems for many young adults.”
premature – (adjective) happening, arriving, or done before the proper, expected, or normal time, “Exposure to harsh sunlight without protection can cause premature aging of the skin.”
hair loss – (noun) the thinning or falling out of hair from the scalp, “Genetic factors are the most common cause of gradual hair loss in men.”
at twice the speed – (expression) happening twice as fast as normal or compared to another group, “With the new automated system, we can process invoices at twice the speed of our old manual method.”
pointed to – (phrasal verb/past tense) indicated, identified, or suggested something as a cause or explanation, “The police report pointed to icy roads as the primary cause of the multi-car accident.”
likely factor – (expression) a probable cause, element, or influence that contributes to a particular result, “Her dedication to practicing daily was a likely factor in her winning the piano competition.”
inhibit – (verb) to hinder, restrain, prevent, or slow down an action, process, or growth, “Cold temperatures can significantly inhibit the growth of certain garden plants.”