Don't work yourself to death: No one ever said 'I wish I spent more time at work' on their deathbed

While some might argue that there’s no such thing as a “work-life balance” in the modern working world, what’s not up for debate is that human beings aren’t machines and should be afforded a reasonable amount of disconnect from their work lives. — Pixabay.com

Did you know that malaria is considered one of the world’s leading public health issues? In 2019 there were more than 229 million cases and 409,000 deaths caused by the disease. These figures are from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which is committed to ending malaria, stating, “no one should die from a disease that can be prevented... and that is entirely curable with available treatments”.

Another report from the WHO that caught my eye recently left me stunned as I read the statistics of another preventable condition that has left malaria in the dust in terms of lives lost.

Shocking findings from a 2016 study – conducted with the International Labour Organisation – were reported by the media earlier this year, describing the first research of its kind on a global scale. The study looked at the loss of life associated with longer working hours across 194 countries and found that, in a single year, 745,000 people died from stroke and heart disease associated with long working hours.

More worrying still was the finding that people living in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific region were the most affected. The report also stated that working more than 55 hours a week can present “a serious health hazard”. In Malaysia, the Employment Act 1955 states that employees shall not be required under their contract of service to work over eight hours a day and 48 hours in one week.

And yet, as reported by The Star in November last year, a global study found that Kuala Lumpur ranked 47th out of 50 major cities worldwide in terms of work-life balance (“Work-life balance still elusive for KLites”). While KL ranked top for longest workweek on average (52 hours) as well as time taken to commute to work, Malaysia’s capital ranked third out of 50 cities on the fewest vacation days offered at eight days, with many people not using their full holiday entitlement.

Contractually, companies can rightly say that employees aren’t required to work beyond their agreed hours; however, in practice, overwork is often seen as a badge of honour and implicitly expected as a means to demonstrate hard work and commitment to the organisation.

When it comes to vacations, employees can be reluctant to take leave due to peer pressure and the fear of looking less than dedicated if they take their entitled leave. Ironically, this fear is especially common in companies that offer the perk of “unlimited paid vacation days”.

On Sunday, Oct 10, 2021, businesses will be supporting the annual World Mental Health Day and leaders will talk about the importance of self-care, exercising, meditation, and seeking help if needed.

These are all important in helping us to take care of our mental health, but mental health is arguably more of a collective, societal responsibility than it is an individual one. All the meditation in the world isn’t going to help employees deal with the constant stress of toxic work environments. If people are overworked, they will suffer potentially severe consequences as a result.

While some might argue that there’s no such thing as a “work-life balance” in the modern working world, what’s not up for debate is that human beings aren’t machines and should be afforded a reasonable amount of disconnect from their work lives. France, Germany, and Ireland have all implemented laws affording employees the right to not routinely perform work outside normal working hours. Providing people with the right to disconnect (eg, no emails or WhatsApp messages after work hours) not only benefits employees but it can also make for a healthier bottom line for businesses.

A 2017 survey by an insurance company found that health-related absenteeism and “presenteeism” (staying at work longer than usual, or going to work when you are ill, to show that you work hard and are important to your employer) cost each business in Malaysia close to RM3mil, with an average of 67 days lost to absenteeism per employee every year.

Overworking prevents people from looking after their health, spending time with loved ones, getting enough rest, and eating healthily – all of which are major contributors to maintaining good mental and physical health.

As World Mental Health Day on Oct 10 approaches, leaders need to consider the serious effects of overwork and whether their workplace policies and cultures genuinely serve the well-being of employees and leaders alike.

Work-related stress is a silent killer of employee health, and while meditation classes, gym memberships and well-stocked office pantries might contribute to people’s well-being, at best they offer a short respite from the mental stress of a demanding work culture.

Stephen Covey – author of the mega bestselling The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – wrote, “The key is not to prioritise what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” The research on leadership and employee wellbeing offers a clear message: The best leaders make employees feel like top priorities. In doing so, not only do levels of happiness and wellbeing increase, but people are also healthier, take less sick leave, and are more engaged in the work they do.

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Sunny Side Up columnist Sandy Clarke has long held an interest in emotions, mental health, mindfulness and meditation. He believes the more we understand ourselves and each other, the better societies we can create. If you have any questions or comments, email [e-mail]. The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own.