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During the dot.com boom at the end of the 20th century, a Harvard professor visited one of his former students who had set up a new technology business. His host showed him the cot beside his desk and explained that this was used to take a nap during all night work sessions. The professor rebuked his host, saying “didn’t we teach you to use your time more sensibly than that?”
More recent research by Sarah Green Carmichael reveals that long working hours occur when some managers find that work is less stressful than their home lives. For them, work is a haven, a place to feel confident and in control. In other cases, inner drivers like ambition, anxiety, and pride result in an overdeveloped sense of duty.
The conclusion is that overwork does not help us. There is no sign that overworked employees will accomplish more. In contrast, overwork can result in impaired sleep, depression, heart disease and heavy drinking. It can make interpersonal communication more difficult. You are more likely to make mistakes you are tired. Only 1% to 3% of the population can sleep five or six hours at night without suffering a drop off in performance.
In the 19th century, the typical work day was reduced from 10 to 8 hours. The result was that output actually increased and accidents decreased.
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