Details

Parent Category: Lower-Intermediate News Lessons

Category: Business Lessons

Written by Chris Cotter

Some countries like France and Australia have experimented with vacation time. Businesses in these countries give employees more time off because they understand work and personal happiness must have some balance. But the trend in many other countries is the opposite. Employees are working longer and longer hours in recent years. "Extreme employees" are the result.

Researchers examined more than two million surveys of high-salaried employees in the US. They concluded that people must work long hours if they want to climb the corporate ladder. However, the extreme employees are unusually dedicated to the company. With their commute and the hours at the office, extreme employees might work 70 hours or more. They are also available for clients and office emergencies every day of the week, including weekends. Lastly, they take far fewer vacation days.

The researchers also discovered that most extreme employees are very unhappy. These employees would be healthier with less work. They also don't spend enough time with their spouse or children, which could be one reason for their unhappiness.

Experts suggest the seventy-hour workweek should drop to forty-five hours, if possible. And despite the trend, some companies like American Express and Johnson & Johnson are trying to reduce the pressure and stress on managers.