Union warns: 12-hour shifts endanger our health!

Union warns: 12-hour shifts endanger our health!

The current debate about working hours in Germany is becoming more intense, especially in Schwerin. The employees here work around 230,000 hours every day. The managing director of the NGG Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania union, Jörg Dahms, expresses concern about the planned relaxation of working time regulations, which should make it possible to introduce 12-hour shifts. This development is considered particularly alarming as it could have a significant impact on workers' health. According to Dahms, longer working hours endanger your health, which can result in typical complaints such as headaches, dizziness, sleep disorders and even depression.

The focus is on the risk of stroke, which increases by 33 percent with weekly working hours of 55 hours or more. This is underpinned by the fact that the risk of accidents increases with every additional hour of work: from the 12th hour onwards, the number of accidents doubles compared to a regular 8-hour day. Freedom from symptoms is a central point in this discussion, as fatigue and declining concentration make long shifts a high risk for everyone involved. These irregular working hours, which often occur in the food industry, further increase the stress.

The voice of the unions

Dahms also questions the compatibility of work and family and appeals to society: Who will look after the children when long working days become the norm? The NGG calls for a clear commitment to the 8-hour day and combines this commitment with the call to participate in the DGB campaign “With power for the 8”. The message is clear: “Nobody can shake the 8-hour day.”

In addition, the German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) is addressing the health risks caused by increasing overtime in current reports. Anja Piel, DGB board member, emphasizes that one in ten full-time employees works more than 48 hours per week. This can promote exhaustion and stress-related illnesses. An invisible pressure arises, especially because more than half of all overtime in Germany is not paid. In 2023, 775 million overtime hours remained unpaid.

Healthy working time models for the future

The discussion about working hours and the health of employees leads to an important topic: How can working time models be designed to promote health? Studies show that modern working time models that offer freedom to choose between longer working hours and more free time bring with them both opportunities and challenges. According to the BAuA working time survey 2023, men in Germany work an average of 41.4 hours per week, while women work 35 hours.

Long working hours, coupled with overtime and reduced rest periods, increase the risk of health problems, including physical exhaustion and sleep disorders. Employees who work in flexible working models often report a better work-life balance. Shortened weekly working hours could be particularly beneficial for women with family responsibilities, as it reduces chronic stress and improves overall well-being.

Holistic company health management that supports flexible models could ensure both the health of employees and the success of the company in the long term. It remains to be seen how the political landscape will evolve with regard to the planned changes to working hours, but one thing is certain: the health of employees must come first.

For further information on the health risks of overtime and possible working time models, refer to the Northern Courier, the DGB and Haufe to comprehensive analyzes and discussions.