Survey Says One-Third of Americans Feel Overworked>
JOIE CHEN, CNN ANCHOR: So, folks in this country, Americans are statistically some of the hardest working people in the world. We certainly know that here at the CNN NEWS SITE. But a new study finds all the work is taking a toll on all of us. The Families and Work Institute says nearly 1/3 of us feel overworked, or overwhelmed by the how much work we have to do. Correspondent Kathy Slobogin joins us now from Washington to talk more about this study. Kathy, how overworked are we?</s>KATHY SLOBOGIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, American workers actually put in more hours on the job than workers in any industrialized country. This survey found that most Americans would prefer to work about a 35 hour work week, but for a lot of people that's a fantasy. Twenty-four percent of U.S. workers worked 50 or more hours a week, 22 percent work six or seven days a week, and about a quarter of American workers don't take the vacation time that they're entitled to.</s>CHEN: Yes.</s>SLOBOGIN: And another finding was that overwhelmingly, 75 percent of U.S. workers say they don't feel they can do anything about that.</s>CHEN: Yes, you know, that struck home there, not taking the vacation that we're entitled to, Kathy. I'm little worried about that. All right, what are some of the factors, though, that push us to do that, to overwork ourselves?</s>SLOBOGIN: Well, this survey found that those who are most likely to feel overworked worked are people who work more hours than they want to for what they call external reasons. For example, your boss forces you to work extra hours, whereas people who work for personal reasons, say to achieve financial goals or career advancement, they're not as likely to feel overworked. Another finding was that multitasking and multiple interruptions are a big problem. Nearly half of U.S. workers say that they feel they're asked to do too many things at a time.</s>CHEN: I think we are talking about our show. OK, what are the consequences though, Kathy, for all of us as workers?</s>SLOBOGIN: Well, one of the most dramatic consequences is that overworked people more likely to make mistakes: 17 percent of the overworkers in this survey said that they feel that they often make mistakes on the job and that's compared to only 1 percent of people who don't feel overworked. And then there are other personal consequences. People who are overworked are more likely to say that they have work-family conflicts, they're more likely to neglect themselves, they're more likely to report feeling unsuccessful in their personal and family relationships, to have negative health effects. So there are really huge problems for people that feel overworked.</s>CHEN: And you say that we're more likely to overwork and make mistakes, so what are the consequences for business if we overwork?</s>SLOBOGIN: Well, there are pretty serious bottom line implications: Higher health care cost of for stressed employees, higher cost of dealing with more workplace accidents and the cost of training new workers when old employees get burned out and leave.</s>CHEN: Correspondent Kathy Slobogin joining us from Washington. with a little reminder: don't overdo it. Thanks, Kathy.</s>SLOBOGIN: Thank you, Joie. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com