Men are working long hours
Finding a comfortable balance between work and everyday life is a challenge that many men face and a recent report research has found that Australian and New Zealand men work some of the longest hours in the developed world.
The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Better life index allows a comparison of well-being across 34 advanced and developing countries. Around 14% of Australian employees work very long hours, which is much higher than the OECD average of 9%. Men are more likely to spend longer hours in paid work, with 21% of men working very long hours compared with 6% of women.
The figures are similar in New Zealand, with 13% of employees working very long hours. 1in 5 New Zealand men worked very long hours compared with approximately 1 in 20 women.
Long hours were considered to be 50 or more hours spent at work each week.
How long work hours can affect your health
Working long hours can lead to:
Missing out on leisure activities such as exercise may have additional effects, because it denies men the opportunity to experience the physical and mental health benefits on offer.
Late nights could have their own set of complications, potentially impacting on diet, sleep, weight and fatigue.
Balancing work and life
It can be a challenge juggling your work and the commitments in the rest of your life. Work will have a strong impact on your social life, personal relationships, family life, finances and physical health.
Finding time outside work for other priorities can be difficult for men who work long hours, especially with new technology that keeps you "on call" 24 hours a day.
The following strategies may help to provide a good balance between your work and the demands of life
References available on request