THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS

OF OVERWORKING
BY: ALYSSA DAHL
WHAT TO EXPECT:

• An introduction
• Overworking effects on:
• A company
• Mental health
• Physical health
• The other side of the story
• Ways to avoid overworking employees
• A real-life example
WHAT IS OVERWORKING?

• There are 2 ways to define overworking

• “to cause to work for too long”
• “to work too much"
• How many hours is too many?
• <40 hours/week

Photo credit: Peter Nicholson (main website: www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au)

Nicholson, P. (2014, February 7). [A comic of a conversation about overworking between an employee and a manager, all while being surrounded by tall piles of paperwork.]. Retrieved July 15, 2018,
from http://freedomdam.com/blog/2014/2/7/the-omnichannel-challenge-how-work-yourself-into-an-early-grave-and-still-get-fired
OVERWORKED EMPLOYEES AND THE EFFECT ON A
COMPANY
• Fatigued employees = less productivity
• Increased amount of workplace accidents
• Overtime pay gets expensive
• Profit suffers
• More sick calls and resignations

Photo credit: Relationship between hours worked and productivity (OECD countries, 1990-2012) [Chart]. (2014, April 9). In The Society Pages. Retrieved July 15, 2018, from
https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2014/04/09/overwork-and-its-costs-the-u-s-in-international-perspective/
EXCESSIVE WORK HOURS AND MENTAL HEALTH

• Work-family conflict
• Depression

• Irritability
• Higher stress levels

Photo credit: Comparison of hours worked and life satisfaction [Chart]. (2014, April 9). In The Society Pages.
Retrieved July 15, 2018, from https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2014/04/09/overwork-and-its-costs-the-u-s-
in-international-perspective/
OVERWORKING AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

• Increased risk of:

• Heart disease
• Strokes
• Heart attacks
• Unhealthy lifestyle decisions

Photo credit: Relationship between working hours and premature death in OECD countries, 1970-2011 [Chart]. (2014, April 9). In The Society Pages. Retrieved July 15, 2018, from
https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2014/04/09/overwork-and-its-costs-the-u-s-in-international-perspective/
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY?

• Not working enough hours

• Higher stress levels
• Paid employment in general
• Lower risk of depression

Photo credit: Fancycrave.com. (n.d.). [White painted wall with white painted door bungalow house]. Retrieved July 15, 2018, from https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-painted-wall-with-white-wooden-
door-bungalow-house-917377/
HOW TO AVOID OVERWORKING EMPLOYEES

• Options for time off

• Flexible schedules
• A stable to-do list everyday
• Gather feedback from employees
• Hire more workers

Photo credit: White, J., MSc, & Beswick, J. (2003). Working Long Hours (p. 37, Rep.). Health & Safety Laboratory.
A REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE OF A GOOD WORK/LIFE
BALANCE:

• Discover Financial Services

• Insurance benefits
• Other benefits to support well-being
• Time off options
• Has even won an award

Photo credit of Discover core values: [Discover Core values]. (n.d.). Retrieved July 15, 2018, from http://www.mydiscovercareer.com/life-at-discover/
A REVIEW

• Introduction
• Overworking effects:
• A company
• Mental health
• Physical health
• The other side of the story
• Ways to avoid overworking employees
• A real-life example
ANY QUESTIONS?

• Review the enclosed notes for more information:

• Project 2 Notes (1).docx