• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.486-494
• /
• 2019

There are an increasing number of reports that job related factors are associated with hypertension, sleep deprivation, obesity and diabetes. This study analyzed the relationship of working type, working hours and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. The study's subjects were 2,777 employees (1,446 males and 1,331 females) over 19 years old and their data was from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey (2015). The type of work was divided into day work and shift work. The working hours were divided into less than 40 hours, 40 to 49 hours, 50 to 59 hours and 60 hours or more per week. As a result of this study, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 26.4% of the males and 19.1% of the females. Generally there was no relationship between metabolic syndrome and type of work (day work and shift work). As a result of analysis of working hours and metabolic syndrome, the workers who worked 40-49 hr were associated with a decreased prevalence of metabolic syndrome as compared to that of workers who worked less than 40 hr (odds ratio: 0.47, 95% confidence interval: 0.24-0.95, p<0.05). Further, positive relationships were found between the number of work hours and the prevalence metabolic syndrome for specific females who worked over 40 hr/wk. It can be concluded from the results that it is important to help workers avoid metabolic syndrome through setting appropriate work hours.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.96-101
• /
• 2021

Background: Many studies have reported noticeable increases in the proportion of employees working either relatively short or relatively long hours. Such trends have been accompanied by an increasing concern regarding work hour mismatches defined as a discrepancy between actual and preferred work hours. The aim of this study was to investigate association between work hour mismatch and depression. Methods: Data regarding work hour mismatches for 47,551 adults were extracted from the 2017 Korean Working Conditions Survey. The World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index was used to measure depression. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between work hour mismatch and depression. Results: Men and women workers with work hour mismatch were more likely to have depression [underemployed males: odds ratio (OR) = 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.14-1.49, overemployed males: OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.18-1.40; underemployed females: OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.20-1.56, overemployed females: OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.02-1.23]. Underemployed workers, workers who worked more than 52 hours per week, and workers with a high income level, all had higher ORs for depression. The greater the discrepancy between actual and preferred work hours, the higher OR for depression among both underemployed and overemployed workers. Conclusions: A difference between actual and preferred work hours was associated with depression. Underemployed workers had a higher risk of depression than that of overemployed workers. As a work hour mismatch negatively affected workers' mental health, it is important to reduce work hours mismatches as well as shorten the absolute number of work hours.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.383-393
• /
• 2019

Objectives: The proportion of those working beyond 53 hours a week in 2018 has reached 16.8% of the total number of workers in the Republic of Korea (Statistics Korea, 2018). Although there are many studies that have dealt with the correlation of long working hours and increasing risk of work-related health problems, studies dealing with the factors impacting work-related health problems of workers according to their working hours are few. This study aims to ascertain factors impacting work-related health problems of workers based on their working hours through thorough research on their work environment. Methods: Necessary factors for this study were extracted from 'the 4th Korean Working Conditions Survey to analyze details on normal characteristics and work environments used for the study analysis, work hours, and health problems related to work. Results: The results are as follows: First, men showed a greater probability of exposure to work-related health problems than did women, especially in the 50s age group, which showed the highest potential for health problems from work among age groups. Second, service providers and sales professionals showed a higher probability of work-related health problems. Third, for the work environment, health problems at work related to vibration, noise, chemical and poison exposure, exhaustion, pain, standing position, and repeated motion showed a higher probability if the work hours are long. Conclusions: This study suggests that the minimization of overtime labor would prevent work-related health problems and diseases, improve the well-being of workers, and decrease the negative impact on workers in the subject area.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.43-59
• /
• 2017

This study aimed to analyze time allocation for men who work long hours and their wives. Using 2014 time-use survey data (provided by Statistics Korea), we analyzed the amount of time spent in four areas-paid work, housework, leisure, and life essentials-of male workers who work more than 52 hours a week and of their wives. Descriptive statistics and a paired t-test were conducted using SPSS version 18.0. The results were as follows: First, the time allocation of men who worked long hours differed from their wives with the exception of personal maintenance time. Second, the working time of wives who work long hours was longer than their husbands who work long. Third, men who worked long hours did less housework when their wives were employed than when they were not employed. All the results showed gender differences in terms of time allocation. Equal role-sharing between spouses is needed for the work-life balance of both husbands and wives.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.17-26
• /
• 2017

Many workers today encounter the problem of overemployment which occurs when actual working hours exceed preferred or desired working hours. Overemployed workers desire to work fewer hours although this may entail a concomitant decline in earnings. This research is conducted to examine the likelihood of overemployment among employees in a particular state in Malaysia, that is, Penang. This study uses primary data that was collected in a survey encompassing a total of 525 employees in the state. A logit model is used to analyse the relationship between the likelihood of overemployment and various socio-demographic, household and work-related variables. The factors that are significantly related to overemployment are ethnicity, age, education, number of children in the household, occupation, hours of work and control over work schedule. Based on the findings of this paper, it is suggested that policies such as offering part-time jobs or job-sharing options to older workers, implementing family-friendly policies, adopting decent working time measures and strategies that give workers more control over their work schedule are some possible ways to deal with the issue of overemployment.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.59-65
• /
• 2023

Objectives: Epidemiological evidence linking long working hours and shift work to metabolic syndrome remains inadequate. We sought to evaluate the impact of reducing working hours on metabolic syndrome. Methods: We compared the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among male manual workers in a manufacturing company (N = 371) before and after the introduction of policy to reduce daily work hours from 10 to 8 hours. Components of metabolic syndrome were measured in periodic health examinations before the intervention, 6-9 months after, and 1.5-2 years after the intervention. Generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate changes in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Analyses were stratified by day work versus shift work. Results: The results showed a significantly decreased prevalence of metabolic syndrome 6-9 months following the intervention in day workers (risk ratio = 0.68, 95% confidence interval 0.52-0.88), but the benefit disappeared after 1.5-2 years. Shift workers showed a decreased prevalence of metabolic syndrome for the whole follow-up duration after the intervention, although the change was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Reducing working hours was associated with short-term improvement in metabolic syndrome in male manual workers.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.1-26
• /
• 2014

This study analyzes the effects of the three types of flexible work arrangements (part-time, flexitime, and reduced working hours for childcare) available in Korea on work-family conflict, facilitation, and job satisfaction for married working women ages 15-49. The study employs a panel analysis based on the first to the fourth data from the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women & Families (KLoWF). The major results are as follows. First, the availability of part-time jobs and reduced working hours to facilitate childcare is significantly related to work-family conflict for married women. If a married woman is employed in a part-time position or if reduced working hours for childcare are available, the conflict within the family caused by the job is reduced. Second, none of the three types of flexible work arrangements have a statistically significant influence on work-family facilitation for married women. Third, the availability of reduced working hours for childcare has a positive effect on the job satisfaction of married women. In conclusion, flexible working hours for women who are raising children are the main factor in reducing the negative effect of a job on a woman's family life as they contribute to work and family compatibility.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.125-139
• /
• 1998

This study investigates work loads and coping strategies of the married female production workers(MFPW). The data of 370 MFPW in manufacturing sector in Taegu are collected by using a questionare in August 1995 The findings of this study are as follow: 1) The results of objective work loads assessed time dairy show that the average working hours is 14.25 hours during weekdays. The respondents spend 11.5 hours and 2.75 hours on doing paid and household work respectively,. The shortage of phisiological and leisure time due to spending excessively long time on work. 2) MFPW perceive the severe subjective work loads in the areas of personal family and social life. The perceived burden from paid work itself is relatively low due to the nature of their job. 3) The coping strategies MFPW actually adopted are limited mostly to those from an individual domain such as shortening the time for sleep leisure or household labor.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.197-200
• /
• 2013

Background: A variety of sociodemographic factors, such as gender, age, household income, and educational level, influence individuals' likelihood of smoking.Work-related factors may also be linked to smoking behavior.We sought to investigate the relationship between smoking and work environment in South Korea. Methods: We analyzed data from the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to determine whether there was an association between smoking and occupation type (e.g., manual, nonmanual, or service work), night-shift work, and hours worked/week (e.g., <40, 40-48, 49-60, or >60 hours) for 4,685 workers. Regression models were adjusted for sociodemographic variables such as age, recent alcohol consumption, hours slept, educational level, and household income. Results: The prevalence of smoking was 50.1% in men and 7.2% in women. For women, manual workers had 2.34 times [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-5.36] greater odds of smoking compared with nonmanual workers, whereas service workers had 2.37 times greater odds (95% CI: 1.28-4.40). Furthermore, women who worked 49-60 hours had 2.21 times greater odds of smoking (95% CI: 1.10-3.75) as compared with women who worked 40-48 hours. Conclusion: Women who work long hours or who are employed in service or manual positions are more likely to smoke. These results indicate a need in South Korea to target these specific groups when creating nonsmoking policies.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.83-93
• /
• 2021

The 52-hour workweek policy in Korea is a system that limits the maximum working hours per week to 52 hours including holiday work, which has been treated separately from overtime work during a week. Although this policy is designed to improve the quality of life and create jobs, it may also reduce the income of some workers. In general, it can be assumed that reduced working hours increase consumption at home. This study analyzed the effect of the 52-hour work policy on meat consumption patterns with the ordered logit model. Major factors considered in this study include working hours, income, and consumption frequency. It distinguished domestic and workplace consumption. The results show that the policy has had an impact on meat consumption patterns both at home and at work. If there is no change in income and only the working hours decrease, meat consumption in households increases. On the other hand, if both income and working hours decrease, household meat consumption decreases. Moreover, reduced working hours decrease the frequency of office happy hour and meat consumption in the workplace. However, the 52-hour workweek policy applies only to workers working more than 52 hours per week; thus, it is difficult to determine the overall effect of the policy on national meat consumption patterns.