• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• 제35권
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• pp.21.1-21.11
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• 2023

Background: Recently, irregular working hours have become controversial issues in Korea. The health impact of irregular working hours on the work-related musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is scarcely researched before. We sought to investigate the association between irregular working hours and work-related MSP among South Korean workers. Methods: This study used data from the sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey in 2020. The prevalence of work-related MSP was analyzed using the χ² test. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between irregular working hours and work-related MSP. We conducted stratified analysis by gender, weekly working hours, and workers' control over their working hours. We calculated the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of work-related MSP for irregular working hours combined with weekly working hours. Results: The OR for work-related MSP was significantly higher in the population with irregular working hours than in the population with regular working hours (OR: 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-1.58). Irregular and long (> 52 hours/week) working hours have the highest risk of work-related MSP in both genders (in men, OR: 3.48 [95% CI: 2.53-4.78]; in women, OR: 2.41 [95% CI: 1.46-4.00]). Conclusions: Irregular working hours were associated with work-related MSP in Korea. The association was magnified with long working hours. Reform of the Korean Labor Standards Act leading to increase irregular working hours may induce adverse health outcome.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• 제35권
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• pp.19.1-19.5
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• 2023

There are several types of shift work in Korea: rotating shift, 24-hour shift, day-night shift, fixed night work, and.so on. As a result of analyzing the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the 6th Korean Working Condition Survey, Korean shift workers accounted for 11.6%-13.9% of wage workers. Weekly working hours of shift workers were 57.69 ± 1.73 (24-hours shift) and 49.97 ± 0.67 (fixed night shift), which were significantly longer than day workers. To prevent health consequences of night work, many countries regulate the working hours of night work not to exceed 7-9 hours a day. However, Korea does not regulate working hours for night work, and some occupations may work more hours than the prescribed overtime hours. To prevent health consequences and reduce working hours for Korean night shift workers, it is necessary to regulate the working hours of night shift workers by law.

• 가정과삶의질연구
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.1-14
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to compared the length of working hours and its effects on family life for Korean and Japanese full-time working couples. For this study, the survey used structured questionnaires and time diaries(one weekday and holiday), and the data were collected in the fall of 1995. A subsample of full-time working couples, 82 couples from Seoul and 79 couples from Tokyo, was used for the purpose of this study. The major findings are as follows; 1) On average, the weekday working hours of Korean husbands were longer than Japanese husbands(11 hours 31 minute, 10 hours 52 minutes a day, respectively). Wives in both countries worked almost identical lengths of time (9 hours 2 minutes in Korea and 8 hours 42 minutes in Japan). Working hours of husbands were longer than those of wives in both countries. Husbands' overtime. Almost (90%) of our Korea sample worked 6 days or 5 1/2 days per week, however the majority (69%) of our Japanese sample worked only 5 days per eek. 2) More Korean husbands and wives reported that their family life was constrained by wives working hours than their Japanese counterparts did. 3) All wives in both countries reported that the husbands long working hours has effects on quality family time. Korean wives perceived that their working hours had effects on time spent on child care, however Japanese wives perceived that their working hours affected their personal time and housework time. Korean husbands agreed with their wives working hours negatively affected their personal leisure time. Japanese husbands reported that their working hours negatively affected their sleeping time.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• 제35권
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• pp.18.1-18.7
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• 2023

South Korea has the highest policy priority for working hour regulations because it has longer annual working hours than other Organization for Economic Development Co-operation and Development countries and has fewer holidays. According to the results of the Working Conditions Surveys between 2006 and 2020, in 2020, 6% of wage earners worked for > 52 hours weekly. The percentage of workers exceeding 52 hours weekly has decreased over time; however, disparities exist based on age, industry, occupation, company type, and company size, particularly in service-, arts-, and culture-related occupations and workplaces with fewer than 5 employees. South Korea's working hours system is greatly influenced by the 52-hour weekly maximum; sometimes, a maximum of 64-69 hours, including overtime, is theoretically possible. To ensure healthy working hours, it is important to actively protect workers who fall through the cracks, such as those in businesses with fewer than 5 employees.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• 제34권
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• pp.2.1-2.14
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• 2022

Background: Because income and working hours are closely related, the health impact of working hours can vary according to economic status. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between working hours and the risk of poor self-rated health according to household income level. Methods: We used the data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI and VII. The information on working hours and self-rated health was obtained from the questionnaire. After stratifying by household income level, the risk of poor self-rated health for long working hour group (≥ 52 hours a week), compared to the 35-51 working hour group as a reference, were calculated using multiple logistic regression. Results: Long working hours increased the risk of poor self-rated health in the group with the highest income, but not in the group with the lowest income. On the other hand, the overall weighted prevalence of poor self-rated health was higher in the low-income group. Conclusions: The relationship between long working hours and the risk of poor self-rated health varied by household income level. This phenomenon, in which the health effects of long working hours appear to diminish in low-income households can be referred to as the 'poor worker's long working hours paradox'. Our findings suggest that the recent working hour restriction policy implemented by the Korean government should be promoted, together with a basic wage preservation to improve workers' general health and well-being.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.115-125
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• 2006

Purpose: This study analyzed the amount of stress and the different effects according to the working times(hours) of a week in two groups: more than 40 hours a week and less than 40 hours a week. Method: The study was conducted from November 1st 2005 to December 15th 2005. The purpose of the study has already been explained in the experiment objectives. 20 copies of evaluation forms were sent by mail to 50 different health sections of participating work sites. A total of 1,000 copies were sent out and 870 were sent back. Within the forms, sent back 120 copies had insufficient data, so 750 copies of evaluation forms were analyzed. Result: Working stress for under 40 hours of working time showed a total of 46.10 points and 47.18 for over 40 hours of working time. For over 40 hours, job demand and occupational climate was high and under 40 hours showed a high rate of job control. For under 40 hours of working time, the factors that caused stress were female, irregular diet habit, age of 30's, nonmanufacturing, and single. For over 40 hours of working time, the factors that causes stress were age of over 40, when the number of employees is 500~999, high rate of fatigue, when the position of the employee is higher then section chief, and when the work amount is high. Conclusion: The stress rate showed significantly higher in over 40 hours of working time. Therefore, adequate working hour distribution and health promotion programs are needed. The factors that cause stress in both under and over 40 hours of working time differed. Therefore, a distinguished program to control work stress for additional working time is needed.

• 산업진흥연구
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

본 연구에서는 2006년 1차, 2010년 2차, 2011년 3차, 2014년 4차 근로환경조사(KWCS) 결과를 바탕으로 2000년대 중반부터 약 10년에 걸쳐 직업별, 고용계약기간별, 직장 유형별, 최종학력별로 우리나라 근로자의 근로시간이 어떻게 변했는지 살펴보았다. 아울러 우리나라의 근로환경조사(KWCS)와 유럽의 2010년 5차 근로환경조사(EWCS) 결과를 비교하였다. 주당 근로시간의 경우 2000년대 중반부터 근래에까지 줄어들었지만 유럽의 근로시간보다는 아직도 더 길다. 직업별로는 서비스종사자와 판매종사자가 전문가보다, 민간부문이 공공부문 및 비영리단체보다, 그리고 저학력자가 고학력자보다 근로시간이 더 길다.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.343-346
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• 2017

Background: Long working hours adversely affect worker safety and health. In 2004, Korea passed legislation that limited the work week to 40 hours, in an effort to improve quality-of-life and increase business competitiveness. This regulation was implemented in stages, first for large businesses and then for small businesses, from 2004 to 2011. We previously reported that average weekly working hours decreased from 2006 to 2010, based on the Korean Working Conditions Survey. Methods: In the present study, we examine whether average weekly working hours continued to decrease in 2014 based on the 2014 Korean Working Conditions Survey. Results: The results show that average weekly working hours among all groups of workers decreased in 2014 relative to previous years; however, self-employed individuals and employers (who are not covered by the new legislation) in the specific service sectors worked > 60 h/wk in 2014. Conclusion: The Korean government should prohibit employees from working excessive hours and should also attempt to achieve social and public consensus regarding work time reduction to improve the safety, health, and quality-of-life of all citizens, including those who are employers and self-employed.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.73-79
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between work-related communication devices use during work outside of regular working hours and depressive symptoms in wage workers. Methods: Data from 50,538 workers aged 15 years or older who had participated in the 6th Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS) were used. The final sample was 32,994 wage workers. The questionnaire asked the respondents how often they used communication devices for work during work outside of regular working hours. Depressive symptoms were assessed using WHO-5 Well-Being Index. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between work-related communication devices use during work outside of regular working hours and depressive symptoms. Results: The rate of depressive symptoms was highest among workers who did not use work-related communication devices during work outside of regular working hours. After adjusting for socio-demographic and work-related factors, the odds ratio of depressive symptoms among workers who used communication devices when working outside of regular working hours was 1.20 (95% CI: 1.09-1.32); the odds ratio of depressive symptoms in the group not using communication devices for free-time work was 1.66 (95% CI: 1.37-2.00), which was higher than that of the reference group, that is, workers who did not work outside of regular working hours, and was statistically significant. Conclusion: Regardless of whether work-related communication devices are used, working outside of regular working hours increases depressive symptoms. The use of work-related communication devices during work outside of regular working hours can reduce the rate of depressive symptoms.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.39-46
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• 2014

Purpose: This study analyzed the relationship between working hours and the occurrence of industrial disasters based on manufacturing businesses that are members of Federation of Korean Trade Unions.Methods: Repliers were managers of the safety & health department in the union, and 215 surveys out of 300 businesses that agreed to participate in the research were analyzed. Results: 94 out of 300 companies, which counted for 43.7%, replied to have experienced industrial disasters. 56 of those (59.6%) had less than 52 working hours per week, and 38 companies (40.4%) had more than 52 working hours per week. 109 companies, which counted for 50.7%, did not have an incident of industrial disaster. Companies with an average of more than 52 hours of working hours per week were shown to have a 2.29 times (95% CI 1.08~4.87) higher possibility of having industrial disasters than those with less than 52 hours of working hours. Conclusion: As the study showed that industrial disasters were more likely to occur in businesses with working hours longer than 52 hours, ways to reduce working hours need to be developed and various safety measures need to be taken to prevent industrial disasters in case workers are undergoing long working hours.