Overwork linked to high mortality and global productivity loss

Data from the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization indicate that in 2016, approximately 745,000 deaths were caused by stroke and heart disease linked to working 55 hours or more per week. This figure includes 398,000 stroke deaths and 347,000 heart disease deaths. Individuals working 55 hours or more face a 35 percent higher risk of stroke and a 17 percent higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease compared to those working 35 to 40 hours.

Recent reports highlight growing workplace challenges. A 2026 Gallup report on the state of the global workplace shows that employee engagement fell to 20 percent in 2025, the lowest level since 2020, resulting in an estimated 10 trillion dollar loss in global productivity. Additionally, 40 percent of employees reported feeling significant stress on the previous day, with managers seeing a nine percentage point decline in engagement since 2022.