Secondhand smoke is deadly, but new research suggests that working long hours under stressful conditions is nearly as bad for our health.
Workplace Stressors:
An analysis of 228 studies assessed the effects of workplace stressors. The investigators found that people who feared they might soon lose their jobs were 50 percent more likely to become ill than those who felt more secure in their employment. Highly demanding jobs also increase a person’s likelihood of a disease diagnosis, by about 35 percent. Having no health insurance doubled a worker’s odds of being diagnosed with a serious health problem.
How Could Employers Help?
The researchers suggest that companies might reduce the cost of employee health care by paying more attention to improving work-family balance or reducing workplace stressors. Obviously, making sure employees have health insurance coverage also is an important step.
