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Workaholism In America Is Hurting the Economy

Posted by Soulskill on from the being-productive-vs.-looking-productive dept.

An anonymous reader writes Work/life balance is a constant problem in the tech industry. Even though experienced and mature engineers have been vocal in fighting it, every new generation buys into the American cultural identity of excessive work being a virtue. Each generation suffers for it, and the economy does, too. This article backs up that wisdom with hard numbers: "The 40-hour workweek is mostly a thing of the past. Ninety-four percent of professional workers put in 50 or more hours, and nearly half work 65 or above. All workers have managed to cut down on our time on the job by 112 hours over the last 40 years, but we're far behind other countries: The French cut down by 491 hours, the Dutch by 425, and Canadians by 215 in the same time period. ... This overwork shows up in our sleep. Out of five developed peers, four other countries sleep more than us. That has again worsened over the years. In 1942, more than 80 percent of Americans slept seven hours a night or more. Today, 40 percent sleep six hours or less. A lack of sleep makes us poorer workers: People who sleep less than seven hours a night have a much harder time concentrating and getting work done."

3 of 710 comments (clear)

  1. Sleep Collects Neural Garbage by Baldrson · · Score: 5, Informative

    They've finally figured out why sleep deprivation kills you -- and its also why it makes you make stupid mistakes.

    Sleep Drives Metabolite Clearance from the Adult Brain

    Problem is it is mainly during slow wave sleep that the cleaning crew works on the CSF, and as people age they their slow wave sleep diminishes.

    --
    Seastead this.
  2. I've quit two jobs, due to overwork by marcgvky · · Score: 4, Informative

    They lie to you in the interview, "oh, it's rare, but there are a couples of weeks here and there, that we burn the midnight oil." Yeah, bullshit. 50-hours minimum, and everyone gives you the stink-eye, if you head for the door before 6PM. Suck it, corporate America. Sell your soul to the corporate idol for NOTHING in return. Once again, suck it.

  3. Re:And the stupidest thing about it? by BonThomme · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://www.salon.com/2012/03/14/bring_back_the_40_hour_work_week/

    It's not magic, it's science.

    PS Productivity is not efficiency.