Red alert: Delmenhorst is fighting against unhealthy working hours!

Red alert: Delmenhorst is fighting against unhealthy working hours!

Around 101,000 hours of work are carried out in Delmenhorst every day, and the numbers speak for themselves. This impressive sum includes workers from crafts, industry, services and trade. But not everything is going well: many employees are forced to work overtime and shifts. Björn Bauer from the Food, Pleasure and Restaurants union (NGG) has expressed concerns that the frequent changes between early, day, late and night shifts pose long-term health risks. “This cannot just continue,” he warned recently.

The federal government's planned reform, which aims to move away from the 8-hour day, is particularly explosive. In the future, 12-hour shifts could even be legalized. These developments have been met with widespread concern because long working days are not only a health risk, they also make it difficult to combine family and work. According to the Aponet 60 percent of parents report shortened opening times or closures of daycare centers, which does not make the situation any easier.

Health risks from long working hours

The opinions among occupational physicians are clear: long working days lead to serious health problems. Studies show that regularly working more than 10 hours not only increases the likelihood of headaches and sleep disorders, but also promotes serious illnesses such as burnout or even diabetes. The risk of accidents increases significantly after the 8th hour of work and statistically doubles if the shift goes beyond 12 hours. These alarming findings come, among other things, from the Böckler Foundation.

The federal government sees the reform as a necessary “modernization” of the Working Hours Act. Employers' associations welcome these ideas. They argue that the current regulation already allows a lot of flexibility. But critics, including Bauer from the NGG and Dr. Amélie Sutterer-Kipping, warn of the potential consequences. A WSI survey highlights the fears of employees: almost three quarters fear negative consequences for their recovery and health.

The pressure on families

Another problem that arises from longer working hours is the additional burden on women. They often take on more unpaid work while also fulfilling their professional obligations. Many women work an average of 8 hours more unpaid work than their male colleagues. The reform could further consolidate the old role model, especially since over 12 percent of employees already regularly work longer than 10 hours.

This interaction of work pressure and family obligations could even negatively impact gender equality. Around 30 percent of mothers had to reduce their working hours because of childcare, which makes it clear that a reform of the working time law should be urgently considered in order to find a sustainable solution.

Given all these challenges, it is essential to view the 8-hour day not just as a traditional requirement, but as a central component of occupational health and safety. Björn Bauer and the NGG are calling on their members to take part in the DGB campaign “With power for the 8”. “We must work together to ensure that our working conditions are not agreed at the expense of our health or our families,” demands Bauer urgently.