Overtime Work and Wellbeing at Home

Abstract

When workers devote more time to paid work it raises income or prospects, but at what cost to those individuals and their families? Descriptive analysis of data from the 2002 General Social Survey Quality of Work module finds that working beyond one's usual schedule is associated with higher absolute and relative family income. However, working extra hours also is associated with greater work – family interference and lesser ability to take time off from work for family needs. There are additional detrimental effects on worker wellbeing, such as slightly more fatigue from work, when the extra work is required by the employer than when it is not. Thus, models of economic well being should incorporate whether or not extra work is imposed. Policies intended to improve social wellbeing should focus on limiting the incidence, frequency and specific repercussions of overtime work that is mandatory and enhancing workers' ability to avoid it.

Keywords:

• working hours
• working time
• overtime
• overwork
• work-life
• quality of life

Acknowledgments

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Grant #2004-5-32, Workplace, Workforce and Working Families, and comments from Morris Altman, Ellen Mutari, Bill Stull, and David Pate.