Hectic pace leads to office workers' burnout
(eastday.com)
Updated: 2005-04-28 09:03

Many Shanghai office staffers are suffering from career burnout due to an increased number of work hours over the past two years, according to a report by an international human resources firm.

Hudson Recruitment, a US-based, Nasdaq-listed headhunter, surveyed 604 executives from multinational companies in all sectors about their Shanghai work practices.

Fifty-eight percent of the respondents said they are working longer hours than ever before, while one-third reported their time on the job was about the same as two years ago.

Those working the longest are professionals in the media, public relations and advertising sectors, with 63 percent reporting they work more than 50 hours a week. The biggest increase in hour was reported in the banking sector, the report said.

The majority of local employees spend 40 to 50 hours a week on the job. Only 7 percent work more than 60 hours, the report indicated.

"Chinese people are responding to a booming economy by working longer," Gary Lazzarotto, Hudson's Asia chief executive, said in a written statement.

He said the survey results were consistent with the growing demand for branding and publicity services in China and the workload required to meet World Trade Organization standards in the banking sector.

The heavy schedules are contributing to a high employee burnout rate, the report found.

Nearly one-third of the companies surveyed reported a rise in employees who are unable to work efficiently, especially among staffers in manufacturing, consumer products and the media.

Jojo Tang, an account executive in a local advertising company, said growing work pressures have deprived her of her hobbies, such as reading and sports.

"What's worse, the frequent overtime makes me sleepy and unable to concentrate the next day," said Tang.

To address the issue, many employers said they are taking measures to help their staff, including reducing work hours, hiring more people and adopting career management coaching.

About 47 percent of companies said they're offering flexible work hours, gym memberships and educational allowances.

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