Yes, Work Overload Can Make You Sick

Researchers from Purdue University in Indiana and the University of Copenhagen decided to investigate once and for all whether a heavy workload can truly harm health. To answer this question, they examined Danish companies whose exports increased significantly between 1996 and 2006. In companies that benefited from the increased demand for their products abroad, workloads rose sharply, and employees were required to work much harder. At the same time, the researchers discovered that these employees also began developing health problems.

Denmark has a well-developed public healthcare system, with organized documentation of each citizen’s medical history in a single database. The researchers examined the medical records of employees in these companies and uncovered troubling data. Among women working in companies that benefited from increased exports, there were many more cases of severe depression, and the number of women requiring medication for heart disease and strokes increased significantly. Among both men and women, there was also an increase in work-related injuries.

The health implications were directly linked to the level of pressure on the company. If a company’s exports suddenly increased by 10%, the risk of women working in that company developing severe depression rose by 2.5%, and their risk of needing medication for heart conditions or strokes increased by 7.7%. The researchers are unsure why the impact was more severe among women than men, but they suggest that men may have also experienced health problems that were not documented through doctor visits and prescriptions.

The more companies sold, the higher the rate of serious workplace injuries. Among the top 25% most profitable companies—those whose exports grew the most during this decade—there was a 28% increase in severe workplace injuries, amounting to approximately one very serious injury per 1,000 employees.

The researchers also examined patterns in employee sick leave. Initially, when a company’s exports began to grow, employees took fewer sick days, likely feeling pressured to come to work even when unwell. However, when exports increased very substantially—as was the case among the 25% of companies with the greatest export growth—the number of sick days per employee began to rise. Men took 14% more sick days, and women took 24% more.

Researchers and physicians have long known that workplace stress and excessive workloads can lead to health problems. What makes this study particularly interesting is the clear evidence it provides that business growth alone—simply becoming busier—can result in serious health consequences for employees. Even if you love your work, it is important to ensure that your workload does not harm your health. Work is good for health; excessive workload, however, tends to benefit doctors’ pockets the most.