The pre-Budget Economic Survey 2024-25 has emphasized the negative health impacts of working more than 60 hours weekly, referencing several studies to warn against extended work hours.
The results emerge during a continuing discussion regarding longer workweeks, ignited by recent comments from industry leaders promoting 70-to 90-hour workweeks.
Spending excessive hours at work can harm mental health: Survey
The survey indicates that spending too many hours at work can harm mental health, as those working 12 or more hours daily report considerably higher distress levels. The report refers to research conducted by the WHO and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that associate working more than 55–60 hours weekly with higher health risks.
“Although the hours spent working is casually viewed as a gauge of productivity, earlier research has recorded negative health impacts when hours surpass 55-60 weekly,” the survey noted, citing findings by Pega F, Nafradi B (2021) and a joint study by WHO-ILO on the disease and injury burden related to work.
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The report also emphasized a study by the Sapien Labs Centre for Human Brain and Mind, revealing that people working 12 or more hours daily experienced considerably lower mental well-being compared to those who spent two hours or less at a desk. “According to the survey, dedicating extended hours at a desk is just as harmful to mental health.”
The conversation about work hours grew stronger after Larsen & Toubro Chairman and Managing Director SN Subrahmanyan recently stated that workers ought to put in 90-hour weeks, including Sundays, rather than remaining at home.
“How long can you stare at your wife,” Subrahmanyan had earlier remarked, while conveying “regret” about not being able to request employees to work on Sundays.
Subrahmanyan faced backlash for his comment, with numerous individuals labeling his statement as “shocking”.
