Latest news with #overwork
NHK
5 days ago
- Health
- NHK
Number of work-related mental health cases hits record high in Japan
Japan's health ministry says the number of people who were ruled eligible for compensation as a result of work-related mental health issues reached an all-time high last year. The ministry's survey shows that 1,055 cases developed depression and other mental illnesses due to extreme stress for the fiscal year that ended in March 2025. The figure was up by 172 from the previous year. The count also exceeded 1,000 for the first time, and marked a record high for the sixth straight year. The latest figure also includes 88 cases of suicide and attempted suicide, up by nine from the year before. The top reason given for the work-related mental health issues was power harassment by bosses and others, with 224 cases. This was followed by an inability to adapt to changes in the content or volume of work, with 119 cases. Harassment by customers and clients was cited by 108 people, while 105 people mentioned sexual harassment. The survey also found that there were 241 cases of workers' compensation given for cerebral hemorrhage, cardiac infraction and other serious illnesses caused by excessive workloads. This figure increased by 25 from the previous year. Of the total, 67 people died, an increase of nine. Ministry officials say a growing number of people appear to be under heavy stress due to relationships in the workplace and changing working conditions. They say they will continue making efforts to prevent overwork and workplace harassment.
Fox News
16-06-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Your brain physically changes when you work too much, scientists warn
New research has found that being overworked can physically alter the brain. Researchers in South Korea set out to understand how working long hours impact the cognitive and emotional health of employees. The study, published in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, assessed the brain volume of 110 healthcare workers who were classified by the categories of overworked – working greater than or equal to 52 hours per week – and non-overworked. The results revealed that overworked individuals exhibited "significant changes" in brain regions that are associated with executive function and emotional regulation. Study co-author Wanhyung Lee, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor at Chung-Ang University College of Medicine in Seoul, told Fox News Digital that this is one of the first studies to examine the relationship between prolonged working hours and structural brain changes. "We initially had no clear expectations regarding what we might discover," he revealed. "Therefore, we found the results particularly intriguing." The researcher noted that increased brain volume associated with cognitive and emotional functions was an "unexpected and fascinating" observation of the study. "These findings open new questions and underscore the complexity of how chronic occupational stress might affect brain health, highlighting the need for further detailed investigations," he said. The increased brain volume as observed was found in regions associated with executive functions, Lee said, such as memory, decision-making and attention — as well as emotional regulation, such as stress management and emotional stability. While these changes may initially reflect a need to manage "ongoing occupational stress," according to Lee, there could be potential risks of prolonged or chronic alterations. This could include neural strain, inflammation or maladaptive reorganization. "Although our current study cannot conclusively determine the long-term impacts, ongoing exposure without sufficient recovery may negatively affect cognitive and emotional health," he said. Lee urged employees who work excessive hours to recognize that chronic stress can lead to physical brain changes, not just psychological complications. This emphasizes the need to manage workload, prioritize rest and maintain emotional balance. "At the same time, individual efforts alone are not sufficient; organizational support and proactive management by companies to create healthy working conditions are essential to protect employees' brain health," he said. "With the rapid advancement of smartphones and digital technology, work increasingly extends beyond traditional office hours into personal time, making chronic overwork more common and less visible," Lee went on. "Employers and policymakers must also acknowledge and address these evolving work patterns to support sustainable working environments." The researcher recognized the progressive move toward becoming an "overwork society." He urged employees to "actively set boundaries, ensure regular rest and recovery, practice stress management, and advocate for workplace policies that clearly define and respect healthy work-hour limits." Dr. Paul Saphier, a neurosurgeon and founder of Coaxial Neurosurgical Specialists in New Jersey, was not involved in the study but commented on the findings in an interview with Fox News Digital. Saphier considered the study interesting, yet not "overly surprising." "There is no question that mental stress and fatigue, either with sleep deprivation, anxiety, long periods of intense concentration, etc., lead to alteration of neurotransmitter release and additional physiological changes," he said. "This may ultimately lead to anatomical changes within the brain." Experts have known that professions that require "crisp cognitive awareness" with "zero room for error" — such as airline pilots and medical professionals — benefit from "limited consecutive work hours to reduce errors," said the neurosurgeon. Kyle Elliott, a California-based tech career coach and mental health expert, also weighed in during a separate interview with Fox News Digital. "Caring for your mental health and well-being is essential if you want to be a productive employee," he said. "Neglecting your mental health can not only affect your ability to work effectively but also negatively impact your physical health and longevity." For more Health articles, visit Elliot encouraged employees to advocate for their needs. "Don't be afraid to speak up [at work or to employers] if you need to take a break or time off to protect your mental or physical health," he said. "Your mind and body will thank you in the long run." The expert suggested taking smaller steps to preserve mental health and prevent burnout, such as taking allocated breaks throughout the workday, connecting with people who are safe to share your frustration with and limiting time on social media.
News.com.au
01-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Work you to death': How young people are fighting back against Japan's ‘toxic' work culture
Think your work weeks are long? Try taking a job in Japan. It's the country where the workers refuse to be seen leaving the office. To the point you might see them dropping dead on their desk. That's no metaphor. It's called 'karoshi'. Death by overwork. That this social illness has its own special name shows just how pervasive it is. For decades, Japan has been plagued by people driven to die early from the stress of their never-ending jobs. The issue is even blamed for the country's critically low birth rate and declining productivity. Pressure on home soil and abroad has forced the government to do something about it. But critics say its not enough. And on the ground, we're still hearing the same sinister story. So young workers are taking matters into their own hands. But what's driving the brutal overwork culture? 'So exhausted' Despite government claims of cracking down on exploitative employers, it seems there's still more work to be done. Employers have been taking to social media to lift a lid on just how demanding their hours are. One recently viral video, from user Salaryman Tokyo, charts a gruelling day in the life. From his 7am wake-up to a 11.50pm dinner. That's an 18.5 hour workday. The man claims to work for what's known as a 'black company'. These sweatshop-style employers are notorious for demanding around-the-clock working hours. According to the user, Salaryman Tokyo, black companies 'focus on hiring fresh graduates because they are inexperienced and less likely to resist harsh working conditions'. The man 'finally' leaves work at 8.15pm, writing that he felt 'so exhausted'. By the time he gets home, he can barely squeeze in dinner. 'Working long hours is not productive,' Salaryman concluded. He's not mistaken. Rather than helping profits, overwork hurts them. Employers suffer low productivity, poor retention, absenteeism or unplanned leave, or the TikTok trend of 'quiet quitting'. So why has it taken so long to change?' Corporate loyalty Japan is a big believer in corporate loyalty. Most workers will rarely switch companies or careers once they've scored a position. But that's not enough. Because the real measure of your loyalty is how long your feet spend under your desk. Japan's rapidly-ageing population plays a part. In 2024, the country recorded its ninth straight year of birthrate decline, with the number of babies born falling to a record low of 720,988. For every new baby born, more than two people died. This phenomenon has left many employers grappling with labour shortages. To combat this, 'black companies' use a bait-and-switch approach. They advertise a role with reasonable working hours, then offer a contract with much longer hours to the successful applicant. These hours may run overnight or on weekends, with no overtime pay. It's also frowned upon for workers to go home before their boss. Working overtime for free is the norm. This means many workers clock up 80-hour weeks, year-round To put it in perspective, in Australia full-time employees work an average of 38 hours. Japanese workers also rarely take days off. Japan ranks among the lowest allotted annual leave benefits of any country in the world. As Japanese reporter Himari Semans told ABC News, '[It's a] toxic work culture'. Burnout cycle This burnout cycle takes a corrosive toll. Over sustained periods, overwork can cause high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other conditions contributing to chronic disease. Not to mention poor mental health and exhaustion. That's why it's so common to see salarymen – a term for Japanese businessman devoted to their jobs – dozing on Tokyo's train system. But behind closed doors, the reality is much darker. Grinding themselves to the ground, Japan's workers are suffering stress-induced heart attacks, strokes or starvation. Official figures put cases of karoshi between hundreds and thousands each year. But experts say the real number is much higher. Many of these deaths are by suicide, another tragic side of the story. Breaking point It was the case that finally brought change. In perhaps the highest profile examples of karoshi, a 26-year-old doctor died by suicide in 2022. Shingo Takashima, 26, was later found to have worked 100 days straight and 207 hours of overtime in the month leading up to his death. The hospital where Takashima was employed denied his death was professionally related. But the backlash wouldn't go away. To tackle the problem, the Japanese Government planned sweeping employment law reforms. They recently offered employers a half day off on the last Friday of each month, and started naming and shaming 'black companies' In April, amended laws came into effect requiring companies to offer flexible work options including a four-day work week. But not everyone is convinced. '(I) heard Japan is implementing (a) four-day work week' Salaryman Tokyo says in his video. 'Guess that was just rumours. My work schedule didn't change at all this year.' The government claims more change is coming. But younger workers aren't sitting around waiting for it. Doing less According to a new survey, 45 per cent of full-time employees in Japan now identify as 'quiet quitters'. The trend, which first went viral on TikTok in 2022, is about helping workers avoid burnout by doing the bare minimum. The survey of 3000 Japanese workers by job-matching company Mynavi found the quiet quitting was most common with young workers, with 46.7 per cent of those in their 20s identifying as quiet quitters. This reflects the global trend for Gen Z workers opting for work-life balance. 'As values are becoming more diverse, it's important for companies to accept the diverse values of individuals and offer flexible work styles that fit them,' says researcher Akari Asahina. The rest of the world is watching closely. Because overwork – and even karoshi – are not uniquely Japanese. According to a 2021 study by the World Health Organization and International Labour Organization, approximately 750,000 people who worked more than 55 hours per week died from karoshi globally. In Australia, full-time employees work an average of 6.2 hours on top of the standard 38 hours each week. That's a worse work-life balance than New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. And our numbers are surging. So Japan should be a cautionary tale. Because while many sides of Japanese culture are worth emulating, death from overwork is not one of them.
Free Malaysia Today
01-06-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Working long hours could alter brain structure, study finds
A new study reveals structural alterations in the brains of those who work more than 52 hours a week. (Envato Elements pic) PARIS : Like many working people, you may have extended your day at the office, long after your colleagues have left, to answer emails or finish an urgent task. But at what cost? This habit, deeply rooted in many professional cultures, is gradually undermining personal wellbeing – it feeds chronic stress and weakens mental and physical health, to the point of disrupting the very functioning of the brain. These are the findings of researchers from Chung-Ang and Yonsei Universities in South Korea. Analysing the effects of overwork on the human brain, they conducted a study involving 110 professionals, mostly from the healthcare sector. The participants were divided into two groups: the first comprised 32 people working 52 hours or more a week; the second, 78 people with standard working hours. Brain imaging revealed clear differences in grey matter volumes, particularly in areas associated with executive function and emotional regulation. The results are striking: the scientists found a significant increase in grey matter in certain brain regions as a possible physical effect of burnout. The middle frontal gyrus, which plays a role in attention, memory and advanced cognitive functions, showed a 19% increase in volume in the most overworked workers. Other areas were also affected, such as the superior frontal gyrus, involved in planning and decision-making, and the insula, essential for self-awareness, emotional management and interpreting social context. The experts state in a press release that 'the observed changes in brain volume may provide a biological basis for the cognitive and emotional challenges often reported in overworked individuals'. A joint study by the WHO and ILO in 2021 attributed more than 745,000 deaths a year to overwork. (Envato Elements pic) What exactly does this mean? For now, the answer remains unclear. 'While the results should be interpreted cautiously due to the exploratory nature of this pilot study, they represent a meaningful first step in understanding the relationship between overwork and brain health,' the researchers say. For the time being, it is impossible to determine whether these changes are directly caused by overwork, whether they pre-exist it, or whether they are reversible. Although the study sample remains small – consisting exclusively of South Korean healthcare workers – the results form part of a worrying trend. In 2021, a joint study by the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization attributed over 745,000 deaths a year to overwork. The link between long working hours and cognitive decline is now well documented, and at a time when trials of the four-day week are multiplying, these conclusions serve as a wake-up call. 'The results underscore the importance of addressing overwork as an occupational health concern, and highlight the need for workplace policies that mitigate excessive working hours,' the researchers caution. Concrete measures – legislation, public policy, time limits – therefore need to be considered to protect workers in the long term.
South China Morning Post
15-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Working long hours can alter brain structure, affecting memory and emotions, study finds
People who work too hard and for too long can end up altering parts of their brains that manage memory and problem solving, new research suggests. A team of South Korean researchers said their findings 'underscore the importance of addressing overwork as an occupational health concern and highlight the need for workplace policies that mitigate excessive working hours'. Published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine, a British Medical Journal publication, the research points to overwork as a potential cause of 'neuroadaptive changes that might affect cognitive and emotional health'. 'Killing it' at work has long been associated with health risks that can literally kill, such as cardiovascular disease and mental health issues, with the International Labour Organization estimating the worldwide annual death toll from overwork at around 800,000. The South Korean researchers say their findings 'highlight the need for workplace policies that mitigate excessive working hours'. Photo: Shutterstock And while the researchers acknowledged that the 'behavioural and psychological consequences of overwork are reasonably well understood', they said they aimed to investigate 'the underlying neurological mechanisms and anatomical changes' stemming from working too hard.
