Is Work Killing Us?

I recently read in a management article that Americans have outpaced the Japanese and the Germans in average working hours. In fact, we spend more time on the job than workers in any other industrialized country with the exception of the South Koreans and Czechs. The Familes and Work Institute reports that American males work an average of 49 hours weekly with females working an average of 42 hours.

Karoshi is Japanese for death on the job. While there have been some instances here in America, no patterns or trends have been sought so they have been written off as "isolated." However, it's important to take note because of escalating work hours and being available 24/7 even while at home. We are certain to experience karoshi more in the future. Therefore, it is critical to maintain a proper work/family life balance.....indeed it could mean the difference between life and death.

So how do we do it? Well, it begins as a philosophy by employers coupled with programs and policies designed to support work/family life balance. However, it is also dependent on employees taking advantage of the programs and taking responsibility to manage the balance as well. Successful execution of work/family life balance is a partnership between employer and employee to do what is needed on both sides.