Mental Health researchers say we should only work eight hours a week

You may think that you are overworked and underpaid, and science would say that you are right.

According to new research, we should all work only eight hours – or one day – a week.

According to one study, this is the "most effective dose" for the benefits of a paid job on mental health. Nothing more than that and it is exaggerated with regard to our mental well-being.

The study indicated that the risk of mental health problems decreased by 30% when people who went from unemployment (or who stayed at home) to paid work of eight hours or less per week.

However, researchers at Cambridge University and Salford University found that there was absolutely no evidence that working more than eight hours longer could help improve wellbeing.

Sociologists set out to define a recommended "workload" for optimal well-being and their results are published in the journal Social Sciences and Medicine.

They did it in the context of increased automation, which might require reduced hours for all and a redistribution of work. The researchers used data from a panel survey to examine the link between changes in work schedules, mental health and life satisfaction in more than 70,000 residents. from the United Kingdom between 2009 and 2018.

They controlled characteristics such as age, children, long-standing illness and household income. The study suggests that to obtain the benefits of paid work in terms of mental well-being, the "effective dose" is only about one day a week – nothing more than making little difference.

"We have effective dosing guides for everything from vitamin C to sleep, to help us feel better, but it's the first time we've asked ourselves about work. paid for, "said Dr. Brendan Burchell, sociologist, co-author of the study. from the University of Cambridge who is leading the employment research project Dosage.

"We know that unemployment often harms the well-being of people and negatively affects identity, status, time and sense of collective intent.

"We now have an idea of ​​the amount of paid work needed to get the psychosocial benefits of the job – and it's not that bad."

Supporting the unemployed in a future where work is limited is the subject of many political discussions, such as universal basic income.

The researchers argue, however, that employment should be maintained in all adult populations, but that the number of weeks of work has been significantly reduced for the work to be redistributed.

"Over the next few decades, we could see artificial intelligence, big data, and robotics replacing much of the paid work currently done by humans," said Dr. Daiga Kamerade, the first author of studying at the University of Salford. "If there is not enough for everyone who wants to work full time, we will have to rethink the current standards."

"This should include the redistribution of working hours, so that everyone can benefit from the benefits of a job in terms of mental health, even if it means that we are all working much less time."

"Our results are an important step in reflecting on the minimum paid work that people might need in the near future."

Researchers have suggested creative policy options for a future with limited work, such as "five-day weekends," two hours a day work, or an increase in annual vacations from weeks to months or even days. leave by month.

Dr. Burchell added, "If the UK were to forecast annual productivity gains to reduce working time rather than pay increases, the normal work week could be four days in a decade."

Dr. Jed Boardman, Head of Social Inclusion at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said, "We know that unemployment is bad for mental health and well-being, and that working can be good for you.

"But working in poorly controlled, high-demanding and complex jobs with precariousness and unfair pay can be as detrimental to a person's mental health as unemployment.

"This high-quality study reinforces what we already know, but suggests that reducing work time can have benefits for people's mental health and well-being.

"If this is to be adopted in the policy, care must be taken to ensure that any reduction in the number of hours is adopted equally for all staff and that the psychosocial quality of Working environment is maintained. "