Why Your Unpaid Overtime is Making You Sick

The number of unemployed Americans is continuing to rise. The financial crisis has not only put many people out of work, but many employers have now stopped recruiting new staff members. The lack of jobs around, and the number of unemployed are making it near impossible to get a new job. Many employees around the country are well aware of this fact, and are becoming increasingly worried that they too may lose their jobs. Workers are now so scared of the risk of unemployment that many have started working through their lunch breaks, getting to work earlier and working long overtime hours each week -- all for free.

This increased stress and worry over losing their jobs, teamed with even longer working hours is certainly taking its toll on employees. Working too many hours each week will make you far more susceptible to common colds and infections, and you're likely to feel run down most of the time. Not only will your general health be affected, but your stress levels are likely to soar through the roof.

There are more reported work-related stress conditions than ever before, and people are making themselves very ill in the process, just to keep their jobs. For many, losing their job could mean losing their home too, and this is said to be the main factor behind this worrying trend.

The pressures and stresses people are under are not only having a negative effect on mental health, but stress in now making many physically ill, and permanently damaging health. If you're continually worried about your job and finances, and you're pushing yourself too hard, you too could damage your health. [1]

If you are worried about the security of your job, you don't have to make yourself ill in order to keep it.  Being the first in and the last to leave may impress your boss, but your body will not appreciate it. We all need down time, as well as time to relax and recuperate away from our jobs. If you have a family and you're never at home, your home life will be bound to suffer too.

Try not to work late every night. Make sure you get in on time every morning and get started on your work straight away. Your boss will be just as impressed, if not more, if you're able to get all of your work done in your working hours. Working unpaid overtime every week could give your employers the impression that you aren't able to cope with your workload, and it may even back fire on you.

Make sure you take a lunch break. This is an important break in the day. Not only is it essential for you to eat, but you also need to take a break away from your job. Working 8 or 9 hours straight is just not good for you, especially if you're working on a computer. You need to also take short regular breaks throughout the day too. This will not only give your eyes a well earned rest, but it will prevent you from getting RSI.

If you're working late, then you're probably eating late too. You should try to eat your evening meal before 7pm, as this will help your body to start digesting your food before you go to sleep. If you eat too late, you may find that you have trouble sleeping, and you could even begin to gain weight. [2 & 3]

References -

1 - Stress levels soar as credit crunch forces workers to put in unpaid overtime – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1083225/Stress-levels-soar-credit-crunch-forces-workers-unpaid-overtime.html. Accessed Sept 07, 2009.

2 - Crunch forces Britons to work unpaid overtime – http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLNE50701N20090108. Accessed Sept 07, 2009.

3 - Stress at work is a risk factor for depression – http://www.nhs.uk/news/2007/August/Pages/Stressatworkisariskfactorfordepression.aspx. Accessed Sept 07, 2009.