Work Hours, Stressors Increasing for Many Professions

June 13, 2001

Philadelphia, Pa. --- Whether aspiring to be CEO or a burger flipper, chances are that workers are putting in more than the accepted standard of 40 hours per work week, according to a recent book co-edited and co-written by a Penn State researcher.

In the book, "Working Time: International Trends, Theories and Policy Perspectives," Lonnie Golden, associate professor of economics at Penn State’s Delaware County Campus near Philadelphia, and co-editor Deborah M. Figart, professor of economics at Richard Stockton College, study the issue of why work time is increasing for many workers, and the impact. Many workers in diverse occupations are choosing to work more hours, despite the stress and strain it has on themselves and the family unit, the authors said.

"For example, there's evidence that in occupations where pay gaps are really wide between rungs up the job ladder, people tend to work longer hours in order to get pay raises or promotions," said Golden. "With the low wage workforce, where pay rates have not been keeping up with inflation, workers are trying to increase their paychecks by working more hours."

In sectors such as manufacturing, mining, telecommunications and healthcare, employees may have little choice because employers mandate that they work overtime at the company's discretion, said the Penn State researcher.

All these issues add up to tough choices for wage earners, especially those from dual-income homes. Do workers seek the highest paying job, regardless of the negative impact that the required time on that job may have on the family unit? Or do they look for jobs with greater flexibility of work time -- which are often either hard to find with a standard workweek or require going to part-time status -- with all of their negative financial and career ramifications?

"It's not just a matter of the worker earning more money for its own sake. Working longer is wrapped up in the consumerist and workplace culture, as well. They get to buy more stuff than others in their peer groups, and they often attain a position of higher status in their company or organization," said Golden.

"You might survey a worker and they say 'yes,' that they want to cut down on their working time, but you'll also find it is difficult for them to put this into practice even with an accommodating employer, because they feel compelled to earn more and achieve more at work."

American workers may be unsure of their priorities, but a 1997 Current Population Survey (CPS) shows a gradual increase in the percentage of employees who have significant work schedule flexibility at their jobs. The survey, which included more than 50,000 respondents, showed that the number of full-time wage and salary workers on flexible and shift schedules more than doubled, from 12.4 percent in 1985, to 27.6 percent in 1997. Golden said the reason for the increase may be a combination of people seeking flexible time, and employers who are looking to increase employee satisfaction and productivity in the workplace.

"Working Time: International Trends, Theory and Perspectives," includes 15 chapters written by economists about industry-specific, country-by-country, and legislative issues, among others. The book was published in 2000 by Routledge Press, New York.

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Contact:

David Jwanier, Penn State/Phila. Campuses (610) 648-3276

EDITORS: Lonnie Golden can be reached at (610) 892-1448, or lmg5@psu.edu by email.