In Luxembourg, the legal workweek is 40 hours; anything more--stretching to 10 hours per day and 48 hours per week--is considered overtime. And many employees report working such hours, or even more, which is of interest to the Occupational Health Association for the Tertiary and the Financial Sector (Association pour la santé au travail des secteurs tertiaire et financier or ASTF), set up in 1994.

ASTF director Patrizia Thiry has been observing this phenomenon since 2006. “I don’t think there is any greater work overload today than before, but people are working more intensively,” she comments.

Many factors can lead to feeling overworked. Cross-border workers might lose two hours a day in transport, for instance. “After the lockdown, some people didn’t want to go back to the office,” Thiry says. “They didn’t want those long days anymore. Of course, telecommuting helps, but transport and accommodation need to enable workers to live better with their work.”

Teleworking is potentially double-edged, however: working anywhere means that it’s harder to disconnect in your private sphere.

Another development that contributes to stress--and eventually burnout--is that workers must be versed not only in their job but also in the myriad of evolving procedures surrounding it, like new software programmes and other tools.

“What’s more,” says Thiry, “there are hardly any slack periods any more: employees are busy all the time.”

Another source of stress for some--and perhaps one people don’t like to admit--is that the multiculturalism of Luxembourg means that many employees can’t use their native language at work.

In 2023, just over 300 people came to the ASTF for help with burnout. Some 90% of these cases were classified as “severe,” suggesting that people don’t seek help until their situation is dire.

Despite these trends, however, the possibilities for taking time off do not seem to be evolving.

Advice for employees

“I give training courses on burnout in auditoriums at the request of employers,” Thiry says. “It’s a concept that’s developing. We can raise awareness and train employees in stress management and personal development, and teach them how to say no, for example.”

“Overworked employees often don’t complain,” she continues. “Except when there’s a lack of recognition on the part of the employer--for example, if they don’t get a bonus or promotion at the end of the year.” Such employees--overworked but not recognised--are the ones that come to the ASTF, she observes.

“In Luxembourg, people attach importance to the values of hard work and loyalty,” she adds. “They have too much of a professional conscience.”

In reality, employees tend not to leave their jobs until the work overload crosses 10 hours a day. This means that 9-10 hours a day has become a norm that most of them accept.

Asked to provide some advice to overworked employees, Thiry suggests the following:

—Get an overview on what you actually do during your workday.

—Ask yourself: Why do I accept this situation? Am I afraid of losing my job? Am I afraid of disappointing my colleagues? Am I afraid of being left behind? Are these fears justified?

—Ask yourself: Is it worth it?

—Review ways to change your situation, e.g. changing employers, careers or your financial needs (e.g by moving house).

Advice for employers

Thiry also has a word for employers: “Give recognition to your employees: listen to them and absorb their emotions, thank them for the work they’ve done (even when it’s not visible) and congratulate them when relevant. Withholding a bonus is not an incentive to do more. Examine this issue closely and tackle it via prevention programmes and training.”

The ASTF, for example, offers a service where employers can send their employees to, free of charge, get a medical checkup with an individual psychological follow-up, or to participate in discussion groups and training.

Ultimately, however, Thiry doubts that the situation will change, at least soon. Still, she hopes that “the way we work can become more balanced.”

This article in Paperjam. It has been translated and edited for Delano.