Off-balance brooke 2020

Off-Balance: America Overworked

It is November 15th, and I am laying silently on my couch. My hands are placed gently at my sides, palms facing down. With every breath, I am met with the smooth chocolate notes of a Bath and Body Works candle that burns in the corner of our living room. I flick my wrist toward my line of sight, deciding to check my watch for the third time in the past five minutes. It’s official: we have been without power for five hours. 

Nearly two weeks ago, a severe windstorm stole the electricity from most local homes for more than ten hours. For my family, this provided a unique opportunity to appreciate each other’s company without the distraction of technology and responsibilities. However, for a portion of this time, we were only able to fret over the work and assignments we could have been tackling. We nearly failed to relish in the simplicity of the moment because of an ingrained compulsion that is a key component of American work culture. 

For nearly 130 years, citizens and politicians fought to reform working conditions in the United States; specifically, the 100-hour work week established by the Industrial Revolution. It was not until 1948, that the civil activism led to a national institution of the 40-hour, 5-day work week. Though working hours have considerably improved from the arduous 100-hour weekly schedule, American workaholism is causing a rise in off-the-clock efforts.

  In 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the employed population spends a daily average of 3.5 hours on at-home work, in addition to workplace responsibilities. By the end of the week, this extension amounts to 17.5 hours of overtime. This means that employees are working nearly 60 hours a week, exceeding the legally mandatory limit by 20 hours. While this nose-to-the-grindstone mentality is customary in the United States, most European nations spare no effort in the search for a healthy balance of work ethic and personal endeavors.  

As mandated by the European Union’s labor laws, working hours must not surpass 48 hours per week, including overtime. On average, employed individuals in western European countries are actively working for 36 hours per week. Many countries, such as the Netherlands, however, boast an average closer to 30 hours per week. While the general establishment of limited in-office hours positively contributes to a balanced lifestyle, French government officials recognize that it may be cause for compensation on personal time. To combat this, France passed a labor law, in 2017, instructing businesses with more than 50 workers to set a restriction on emails sent between office hours. During this time, French employees are not required to engage in email communication. Given the measures that European legislators are taking to repress workaholism, should the United States look for an indication to implement similar policies?

When asked, in 2019, if they regularly experience stress in the workplace, 94% of Americans answered in the affirmative.  Nearly two-thirds of employees contemplated quitting their jobs, with the intention of pursuing a position that may offer less opportunities for pressure. The American Institute of Stress reported, in 2018, that 76% of polled individuals felt the effects of work-related stress on their personal relationships. These repercussions extended to physical signs when 66% of workers claimed they endured stress-induced sleep deprivation. Comparatively, a mere 18% of European employees reported daily work-related stress. In addition to its harmful stress levels, the productivity of workaholism habits is inferior to that of a strict 40-hour work week. 

Researchers at Stanford observed that, if a group of employees experienced an increase of work hours per week from 40 to 60, their average productivity decreased to less than two-thirds of its original level at 40 hours. This is due to the fact that the quality of workers’ daily output plummets after 8 hours. This decline may lead to errors that outweigh the additional time spent working. While many individuals are afforded the opportunity to cut their weekly efforts to a maximally-productive 40 hours, there are several professions that are unable to do this. For employees that are required to work overtime, productivity and stress can be improved through short walks and simple self-care practices. 

Even under normal conditions, the American work culture imposes tremendous stress upon employees. This burden has increased exponentially in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the professions most affected by these unique circumstances are unable to maintain a 40-hour week. As there is no certainty regarding the prospective length of these conditions, workers should take actions to lower their stress as much as possible. Whether or not you are able to spend this Thanksgiving Day relaxing in the company of your family, it is important to graciously reflect on the blessings of 2020, in spite of the frustrations and hardships it has delivered along the way.