Dive Brief:

• According to a recent New York Times article, work demands "at multiple levels across multiple industries have become untenable."
• Recent reports cited by Work@Life's Tony Schwartz include one about the effects of long hours on Wall Street. Another recent study described the negative effects of a 24/7 work culture on families, and especially on women’s career prospects.
• Schwartz says there is only one word to describe this trend: "inhumane."

Dive Insight:

Bad work practices like excessive work hours will not fuel a high-performing culture, Schwartz says. Instead, meeting people’s core needs, rather than simply trying to squeeze more out of them, is a better alternative for productivity. Schwartz says that what has changed most today is the "intensity and relentlessness" of the pressure, "supercharged by digital life and a global economy that extends the once finite working day to all hours of day and night."

After citing some examples of how giving employees a chance to recharge either at home (a sufficient night’s sleep, for example) or by renewing with breaks and other similar strategies throughout a day at work, Schwartz conculded that, "The culture of overwork is slowly killing us. What will it take for companies to recognize that humanity—simply caring about people—is a huge competitive advantage?"

In the end, well-rested and less stressed people perform better. HR needs to take the lead in making sure their culture reflects that basic concept.