A recent study from the German Wido Think Tank of Health Insurers found that work/life balance was not happening among German workers, resulting in a 120 per cent increase in sick days since this type of data first starting being collected in 1994.
A poll of 2,000 employees found that long commuting distances (more than one hour) and taking work home were the two main reasons for this imbalance, with 33.8 per cent answering work-related calls and e-mails from home.
The author’s study said employees are sacrificing mental health for work flexibility and that this trend is increasing sick leaves, which on average last 22.5 days, a figure that is twice as long as for other ailments.
See, “Study: Commuting and After-Hour work a health hazard,” available atwww.dw.de.