What happens when we work non-stop
The latest statistics from the International Labor Organization show that more than four-hundred million working people around the world work forty-nine hours or more per week. Notably, Elon Musk even revealed spending his birthday pulling an all-nighter in his factory. While many of his fans saw this disclosure as a natural and admirable part of being Silicon Valley’s most notable entrepreneur, that tone sets a dangerous precedent. There is a slew of evidence that shows working overtime is a health risk and reduces productivity. Nevertheless, millions of people from medics to gig economy workers are seemingly reluctant to speak out against this ‘long hours’ culture. A study of job records over thirteen-years showed that jobs that require high amounts of overtime pose a 61% increased risk of on the job injury compared to jobs without overtime. Working excessively long hours is a serious hazard and can have major consequences, even for billionaires like Elon Musk. After a recent New York Times interview Tesla’s stock fell 8.8% amid suspicions about Musk’s declining mental health. With the growing gig economy, it seems unlikely that platforms like Uber and GrubHub will allow this reality to change in the near future. Researcher Alex J. Wood’s recent publication, “Good Gig, Bad Big: Autonomy and Algorithmic Control in the Global Gig Economy,” reveals just how severe the correlation is.
See "What happens when we work non-stop", José Luis Peñarredonda, August 24, 2018