OVER WORK

An alarming study of how work pressures are making us sick, exhausted, and miserable.

There was a time when work stayed in the workplace, but that era is over, writes Schulte, whose previous book, Overwhelmed, investigated the social dynamics of work. In this follow-up, she paints a grim picture, showing how office work has followed employees home, where they are expected to continue answering emails and solving problems into the night and on weekends. The situation is equally dire for those employed in the service industry or manufacturing, where hours and duties have increased but wages have remained stagnant for years. The pressure is even greater for those who are juggling family responsibilities, caring for young children or elderly parents. Schulte provides statistical data to back up the anecdotal evidence, noting that the result of all these interrelated factors is an array of physical and mental health problems, especially depression and chronic anxiety. There are, however, companies that have brought in better arrangements, including greater performance flexibility and shorter workweeks. In some cases, these policies have led to a better bottom line, although many variables are in the mix. Schulte believes there are policy lessons to be learned from other countries around the world, including legal protection for family time and acknowledgment of the value of (unpaid) domestic work. Some of her proposals would be difficult to implement, but her overall view that work is not working is valid. Even though the author does not answer all the questions she raises, she presents a solid contribution to a crucial debate. Two epilogues address “How To Change” and “The Problem With Work Stress and How To Solve It.”

Writing with energy and passion, Schulte shows how work has come to dominate our lives and outlines options for change.