Safety and Health at Work

Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (산업안전보건연구원)
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Employment Factors Associated With Long Working Hours in France

  • Isabelle Niedhammer (INSERM, Univ Angers, Univ Rennes, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en sante, environnement et travail)) ;
  • Elodie Pineau (INSERM, Univ Angers, Univ Rennes, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en sante, environnement et travail)) ;
  • Sandrine Bertrais (INSERM, Univ Angers, Univ Rennes, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en sante, environnement et travail))
  • Received : 2023.04.04
  • Accepted : 2023.09.12
  • Published : 2023.12.30
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Abstract

The objectives of the study were to explore the employment factors associated with long working hours, known as a risk factor for various health outcomes. The study relied on the national representative data of the 2013 French working conditions survey and a study sample of 23,378 full-time employees. Long working hours were defined by the threshold of 48 hours a week following the European Working Time Directive. The prevalence of long working hours was higher among men (13.5%) than among women (8.5%). Employees of the private sector, with permanent work contract, in small companies, and men in the services had a higher prevalence of exposure. This prevalence increased with educational and occupational levels. Our findings may help decision-makers to define preventive strategies. More research is needed to improve our knowledge of the employment factors associated with long working hours, as there may be strong differences between countries.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors thank the members of DARES (French Ministry of Labour) and all the participants of the 2013 National French Working Conditions Survey, who made this study possible.

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