Some people get excited about working overtime. While occasional overtime can be a blessing. But sometimes, this overtime of work can cause a risk factor for them. Even a new research suggests that people who work more than 39 hours a week are putting their health at risk. So, a healthy work limit should be 39 hours per week.

Scientists from Australian National University (ANU) have analyzed the impact of overtime and extended working hours on the risk of occupational injuries and illnesses among a nationally representative sample of working adults. They used data from 8,000 Australian adults as part of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics.

And they stated that work limit for a healthy life should be 39 hours a week. Almost 80 years ago, the work limit was 48-hour-week.

Research lead Dr. Huong Dinh said, “Almost two in three Australians in full-time employment worked more than 40 hours a week. Working long hours is a bigger problem for women who do more unpaid work at home.”

“Long work hours corrode a person’s mental and physical health. It’s because it leaves less time to eat well and look after themselves properly,” he added.

Women on average as skilled as men. Still, they have lower paid jobs and less autonomy than men. They spend lots of time on care and domestic work. With additional requirements placed on women, it becomes impossible for them to work long hours. It often expected by employers unless they compromise their health.

If considering commitments of any work center, the healthy work limit for women is 34 hours per week. At the other hand, the healthy work limit for men is considered as 47 hours a week. The reason behind their more time because they spend much less time on care or domestic work than women.

Study co-author Lyndall Strazdins said, “We need to resolve some of the bigger problems that affect work and home life balance.”

“People needs to do more to change attitudes to work and to support men to take the time to care without penalty or prejudice. They need to dispel the widespread belief that people need to work long hours to do a good job.”