Government proposing legislation for extended workdays, potentially allowing for a 12-hour work period.
Government Proposal for Flexible Weekly Maximum Working Hours Raises Concerns over Worker Health and Work-Family Balance
Friday's study by the Hugo Sinzheimer Institute for Labor Law (HSI), a research body affiliated with the Hans-Böckler Foundation, suggests that the government's proposal for a simplified weekly maximum working time could permit workdays extending beyond 12 hours. According to the study, under the proposed changes, the daily maximum work hours would amount to 12 hours and 15 minutes, after deducting the mandatory 11-hour rest period and a 45-minute break.
Researchers from the HSI, Amélie Sutterer-Kipping, and Laurens Brandt, have expressed concerns about the potential detrimental impact of extended daily working hours on workers' health. They argue that a more relaxed daily work regime could exacerbate existing health issues and lead to an increase in workplace-related health problems.
Presently, employers may legally demand up to 10 hours of work per day in exceptional cases, with the stipulation that these hours are balanced out over time. Currently, the maximum weekly working hours stand at 48 hours, with exceptions. The proposed legislation suggests replacing the current eight-hour daily work rule with a simplified weekly work cap, raising concerns about the potential widening of the existing flexibility.
The HSI experts have also hinted at the potential adverse effects of such proposals on work-family balance, particularly for women in the labor market. They caution that longer working hours may undermine the balance between work and family life, thus hindering women's professional integration.
In the context of emerging research, extended working hours are linked to a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders in shift workers. The scarcity of sleep associated with lengthy shifts contributes to impaired alertness, decreased productivity, and cognitive dysfunction. Furthermore, prolonged shifts can have a detrimental impact on mental health, as they negatively affect recovery and increase stress levels.
Longer workdays, in turn, may curtail available time for family engagement, personal care, and relaxation – critical factors for mental well-being. An increase in work-life conflict resulting from such schedules can lead to stress and dissatisfaction in both domains. Over time, these imbalances may result in strained relationships and a reduced quality of life.
While the proposed legislation could offer some regulatory clarification, the potential risks to worker health – especially fatigue-related ailments – and the undermining of work-family balance suggest the need for careful consideration before implementing such changes.
[1] Almquist, D. R., et al. (2008). Differential cardiovascular risks of Rotating and continuous night work among women and men and shift-related factors. American Journal of Epidemiology, 167(6), 783-792.
[3] Hafner, M., et al. (2012). The impact of shift work on cognitive performance and the implications for road safety. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 54(12), 1242-1248.
[4] Van den Bossche, L., et al. (2006). The impact of shift work on cognitive function in women: a review. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 48(12), 1316-1325.
The government proposal for flexible weekly maximum working hours, in conjunction with potential extended daily working hours, raises questions about the feasibility of秒 Finance and Business policies that support vocational training, considering the possible negative impacts on worker health and work-family balance, as highlighted in the studies by Almquist et al. (2008) and others.
The concerns over the general-news topic extend to the realm of Politics, where policymakers must weigh the potential benefits of regulatory flexibility against the potentially detrimental effects on workforce health and work-family balance, specifically for women in the labor market.
