Long working hours led to 745,000 deaths from a stroke or ischemic heart disease in 2016, a 29 percent increase since 2000, according to new data from the WHO and ILO.

The joint study was the first global analysis of the loss of life and health associated with working long hours, and was published in Environment International earlier this month.

The research suggests that in 2016, 398 000 people died from a stroke and 347 000 from heart disease as a result of having worked at least 55 hours a week.

Between 2000 and 2016, the number of deaths from heart disease due to working long hours increased by 42 percent, and from stroke by 19 percent.

This work-related disease burden is particularly significant in men (72 percent of deaths occurred among males), people living in the Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions, and middle-aged or older workers.

Most of the deaths recorded were among people dying aged 60-79 years, who had worked for 55 hours or more per week between the ages of 45 and 74 years.

Ultimately, the study concludes that working 55 or more hours per week is associated with an estimated 35 percent higher risk of a stroke and a 17 percent higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease, compared to working 35-40 hours a week.

The new analysis comes as the COVID-19 pandemic shines a spotlight on managing working hours – many are concerned that the rise in hybrid work arrangements could lead to more working hours.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said teleworking had become the norm in many industries, often “blurring the boundaries between home and work.”

“In addition, many businesses have been forced to scale back or shut down operations to save money, and people who are still on the payroll end up working longer hours.”

“No job is worth the risk of stroke or heart disease. Governments, employers and workers need to work together to agree on limits to protect the health of workers.”

WHO Director Dr Maria Neira said working 55 hours or more per week should be considered a “serious health hazard.”

“It’s time that we all, governments, employers, and employees wake up to the fact that long working hours can lead to premature death.”

Governments, employers and workers can take the following actions to protect workers’ health:

• governments can introduce, implement and enforce laws, regulations and policies that ban mandatory overtime and ensure maximum limits on working time;
• bipartite or collective bargaining agreements between employers and workers’ associations can arrange working time to be more flexible, while at the same time agreeing on a maximum number of working hours;
• employees could share working hours to ensure that numbers of hours worked do not climb above 55 or more per week.

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