Can A 70-hour Work Week Impact Health Negatively? Neurologist Explains

The Karnataka government recently made headlines after it proposed to extend the working period of techies to 14 hours per day and 70 hours a week. Employee and trade unions of the IT Sector raised concerns regarding this and resisted the proposal calling it “inhuman”. Some time back, Narayan Murthy, co-founder of Infosys also made a similar statement. Recently, Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal backed the 70-hour workweek advice by claiming that he does not support work-life balance. Upon hearing this, a neurologist has shared his concerns regarding such a work culture.

Manipal Hospital Consultant -Neurologist and Epileptologist, Dr Kishore KV shared that the 70-hour work week would have effects on the health. If the stress is high, it will affect the body and mind and this will impact one’s lifestyle.

Will a 70 hour work week include productivity?

Dr Kishore KV shared that prolonged working hours could mean high blood pressure, high sugar, heart attack and stroke. He feels that this could pose a risk for those with high pressure. He further shared that work-life balance is very important as one needs to pay attention to family, health and sports as well. Working longer cannot be possible if the work environment, physical and mental health and mood are not good. Productivity will not be high.

It is important to realise that family life is also an equal and contributing reason to be productive. Before introducing a bill, all aspects of an individual should be kept in mind. Only then will the society be strong and our country will emerge to be number 1 in the world.

Other doctors have also raised health concerns and shared that working for just 55 or more hours per week means an individual is at 35 percent higher risk of getting a stroke and a 17 percent higher risk of dying due to heart disease. As per reports, 8,00,000 people die every year due to working for more than 55 hours. Long working hours are associated with a higher risk of being overweight and getting diabetes. A study has found that working for 70 hours or more a week can lead to moderate to severe depression.