A Milwaukee banker was hospitalized with pancreatic failure after being compelled to work 110-hour workweeks
From Yahoo Finance: 2025-05-19 17:00:00
Junior employees at Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated were hospitalized after working 110-hour weeks, one with a failed pancreas. Wall Street’s punishing work culture has resulted in deaths, with two junior bankers dying after logging up to 100-hour workweeks.
Research shows working long hours can actually decrease productivity by 20%. Employees feeling pressured to work overtime are more prone to mental and physical exhaustion, leading to errors and absenteeism. Managers pushing employees to work beyond 40 hours a week are risking their health and impacting company productivity negatively.
Employees can set boundaries by discussing work hours with HR, prioritizing tasks, and establishing clear availability times. Managers should encourage breaks to prevent burnout and openly value their employees’ health and well-being to boost productivity and set their company apart from competitors.
Improving work-life balance not only enhances productivity but also attracts and retains top talent. Only 35% of workers report their company encourages breaks, and 29% say they work for a manager who values their mental health, according to the Work in America Survey by the American Psychological Association.