Why Do Americans Increase Work Hours

Throughout history, Americans pride themselves on their work ethic. Pride from working hard and finding a place in the workforce is a common dream amongst American citizens. Recently however, the US work week has become a point of contention for both employers and employees. Businesses want their employees working at top performance all day, and employees feel the pressure. Finding a balance between productivity and employee health is difficult. As the American work week grows, employees suffer in health in attempts to increase their, already strained, productive hours.
Employee’s working too long is a relatively new problem. For years Americans have slowly been increasing their work hours. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there

Americans have high standards as the most productive country in the world, despite the common misconception that longer work hours means more workers are more productive (Miller). Recent studies have found that working more than fifty five hours a week does nothing to increase productivity levels (Ingraham). Still companies expect their workforce to put in productive, long hours. Humans optimize productivity by working in bursts of energy with plenty of rest time, not working continuously (Sahadi). Without short breaks humans simply cannot function at peak levels, they are not machines. Unfortunately many companies treat workers like machines. Most employees do not realize they work at less than optimal production levels. “Employees who work at least 55 hour compared to those who work 40 hours or less report feeling 21% less engaged and 27% less focused”, and it is that focus and energy that drives up production (Sahadi). Despite companies mentality, productivity does not increase with long work

The longer an employee works the more he or she risks his or her health. Working more than the average forty hour work week can increase the consumption harmful substances like alcohol or tobacco and cause weight gain or depression (Popomaronis). The American work mentality affects not only employees’ physical health but their mental health as well. In fact, working itself can cause health issues if employees feel constant stress. Job stress causes heart issues, psychological problems, as well as tissue and bone complications (Conlan). High expectations fuel employees’ stress. Some health issues caused by overworking are impossible to recover from. Death from overworking happens so often in Japan that they now have a word, karoshi, to describe it (Conlan). Similarly, the American work force should take into consideration that “ working more than ten hours a day is associated with a sixty percent jump in risk of cardiovascular issues” (Popomaronis). Detriments to employees health should not be taken lightly by companies. If Americans want to continue living their healthy lives the effects from overworking demand to be taken into consideration. Nevertheless, working to little does not benefit workers health either. An interesting study, “found that those who work under thirty hours a week actually had high blood pressure and cholesterol levels than those who worked between