Sociologist: Norm of overtime unproductive

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, June 18 (UPI) -- A Dutch sociologist says there is a growing trend for overtime to be less a matter of choice despite inefficiency associated with working long hours.

The study, published in the journal Gender & Society, says choice is turning into expectation at most companies built upon the "team work" model -- with pressures coming from project teams, responsibility for meeting profit or production targets, imposed deadlines and employees left to manage their own careers.

Patricia van Echtelt of the Institute for Social Research in The Hague, Netherlands, and colleagues found 69 percent of men and 42 percent of women worked overtime. Van Echtelt says there is a growing body of evidence that heightened competition in the workplace, combined with modern business practices, are resulting in near-unprecedented levels of overtime -- and exhaustion.

"Moreover, a growing body of literature shows that working long hours does not automatically lead to greater productivity and effectiveness," she said, "and thus (does not necessarily contribute) to employers' needs but potentially harms the well-being of employees."

For example, a separate study at a software engineering firm determined that interdependent work patterns, "a crisis mentality" and a reward system based on individual heroics led to "inefficient work processes and long working hours," Van Echtelt added.