Overwork and workplace mobbing cause 840,000 deaths annually

By Bilge Türk | Wise News Press

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND — Psychosocial risks in the workplace, including extreme stress, long working hours, and mobbing, are responsible for more than 840,000 deaths globally every year, according to a newly released report by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The unwritten rules of the corporate world—working longer hours, sacrificing sleep, and managing intense stress to climb the career ladder—are no longer just causing psychological burnout. The ILO data confirms that these toxic environments are triggering severe physical illnesses, transforming poor workplace management into a massive global public health crisis.

Heart diseases drive the death toll

The ILO report directly analyzed the physical consequences of psychosocial risk factors stemming from employment. Of the 840,088 deaths linked to harsh workplace conditions annually, the vast majority are caused by cardiovascular diseases. Stress-induced conditions, such as ischemic heart disease and strokes, account for 783,694 deaths each year.

Meanwhile, deaths attributed to mental disorders, including severe depression, reached 56,394. The report notes that these psychosocial risk factors result in the loss of approximately 45 million disability-adjusted life years annually. This equates to a staggering economic loss, estimated at 1.37 percent of the global gross domestic product.

Toxic culture and burnout quantified

For years, concepts like "toxic culture," "low morale," and "burnout" have been treated as abstract corporate issues. The ILO report has now cemented them as statistical and measurable health threats. The organization defines the psychosocial work environment not just by the tasks assigned, but by how work is organized, managed, and dictated by daily policies.

When systems are poorly designed, they create excessive workloads, ambiguous job descriptions, unstable schedules, and a profound lack of control. This disrupts the balance between the effort an employee exerts and the reward they receive, leading to deep psychological and physical damage.

Overwork remains the biggest risk

Long working hours are identified as one of the most prominent and measurable factors threatening occupational health. According to the ILO, 35 percent of employees worldwide work more than 48 hours a week. In occupational health research, working 55 hours or more per week is generally classified as "long working hours."

The burden of these extensive hours falls heaviest on the Asia-Pacific region. Data from 2019 shows that 47 percent of workers in this region exceeded the 48-hour mark. On a sectoral level, wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, transportation, and communication are the industries with the highest rates of overwork. Additionally, the rate of long working hours is significantly higher in the informal economy (41 percent) compared to formal employment (28 percent).

The alarming reality of workplace harassment

Beyond long hours, workplace bullying (mobbing) and harassment play a devastating role in destroying employee health. Globally, 23 percent of workers report having experienced at least one form of violence or harassment during their working lives. The most common form is psychological violence, reported by 18 percent of respondents.

Physical violence was reported by 9 percent of workers, while 6 percent reported experiencing sexual violence or harassment. The report highlighted that women are disproportionately affected, facing higher rates of sexual violence and harassment than men, exposing critical safety vulnerabilities in work environments.

ILO issues an urgent call to action

In its concluding remarks, the ILO issued an urgent call to governments and employers to integrate psychosocial risks into standard occupational safety and health systems.

The organization recommends a fundamental redesign of work environments, calling for thorough reviews of workloads, staff planning, task distribution, and supervisory processes. Furthermore, the ILO stressed the need for clearer national regulations and the establishment of safe grievance mechanisms, allowing employees to voice their concerns and pressures without fear of retaliation.

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