Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) analyzed data collected from 8,000 Australian adults as part of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. They found that long work hours have the potential to “erode” a person’s physical and mental health. Mainly, it leaves workers “less time to eat well and look after themselves properly,” lead researcher Huong Dinh, of the ANU Research School of Population Health, said in a statement.
This is especially true for women, who researchers suggest should limit their work hours to 34 hours a week; men should limit hours to 47 hours a week. That’s because, according to Dinh, men spend less time doing domestic work.
“Given the extra demands placed on women, it’s impossible for women to work long hours often expected by employers unless they compromise their health,” Dinh said.
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