Overwork warning signs and your rights at work

Overwork warning signs are signals from your body that long hours are harming your health. Some need a doctor soon, such as constant tiredness, poor sleep or headaches. Some need an ambulance now, such as chest pain or a face or arm that suddenly goes weak. Writing down your hours protects both your health and your rights.

Maybe you have been telling yourself, "Just one more busy month." Maybe your body has been asking you to stop for a while. This page helps you listen to it, and shows you where to get help.

Which signs mean you need emergency care now?

Long hours raise the risk of stroke and heart disease. WHO and the ILO linked 55 hours or more a week to 745,000 deaths in 2016. So these signs need help right away, even in the middle of a shift.

Stroke: think FAST (NHS):

• Face: one side of the face drops, or the person cannot smile.
• Arms: they cannot lift both arms and keep them there.
• Speech: their speech is slurred or confused.
• Time: call your emergency number at once.

The US CDC adds two more early signs: sudden loss of balance and sudden changes in eyesight.

Heart attack (NHS, CDC, AHA):

• chest pain, pressure or squeezing;
• pain that spreads to the arm, neck, jaw, back or stomach;
• feeling short of breath;
• a cold sweat, feeling sick, or feeling light-headed.

Call your emergency number even if the signs stop. The NHS says do not drive yourself to hospital.

Place	Emergency number
Japan, South Korea, Taiwan	119
Mainland China	120
UK, Malaysia	999
US, Canada	911
Australia	000
European Union	112

Which signs mean you should see a doctor soon?

Stress from long hours can show up in your body before anything serious happens. The NHS lists these signs of stress:

• headaches or dizziness;
• tight or painful muscles;
• stomach problems;
• chest pain or a fast heartbeat;
• sleeping too much or too little;
• eating too much or too little;
• drinking or smoking more than before;
• finding it hard to think, decide or remember.

Book a doctor if these last for weeks, or if you feel you cannot cope. Tell the doctor how many hours you really work. That number helps them understand.

Is it burnout, or something more?

WHO calls burn-out an "occupational phenomenon". It is not a medical condition. It comes from long-term work stress that has not been well managed. It has three parts:

1. feeling drained or exhausted;
2. feeling distant from your job, or negative about it;
3. feeling less able to do your job well.

Burnout can sit alongside depression or anxiety. If you feel hopeless, or have thoughts of not wanting to live, please talk to someone today. Suicide is never caused by work alone; WHO says the reasons are "multi-faceted". Help works. The free lines at the top of this page are a good place to start.

How do I record my working hours?

A record of your hours is one of the strongest things you can have. It helps your doctor. It helps if you ask for change at work. If the worst happens, it helps your family claim compensation.

1. Write it down every day. Note your start time, finish time and breaks. Use your own notebook or phone.
2. Count the hidden hours. Include work calls, messages and tasks done at home.
3. Keep proof. Take photos of rosters. Save messages that ask you to stay late. Keep your pay slips.
4. Keep copies off work devices. You may lose access to them if you leave.
5. Tell someone you trust. A family member who knows your hours can speak for you later.

How many working hours is too many?

WHO's study found harm at 55 hours or more a week. The very first ILO convention, in 1919, set 8 hours a day and 48 hours a week. Here are today's legal limits in some countries:

Country	Normal hours	Overtime limit	Source
Japan	40 a week	45 a month, 360 a year (higher with a special agreement)	MHLW
South Korea	40 a week	12 a week (52 in total)	Korea.kr
Mainland China	8 a day, 44 a week on average	36 a month	Labour Law
Taiwan	8 a day, 40 a week	46 a month (54 with agreement)	Labor Standards Act
Malaysia (Peninsular and Labuan)	45 a week	104 a month	JTKSM, Regulations 1980
Singapore (most non-managers)	44 a week	72 a month	MOM
European Union	48 a week on average, including overtime	Included in the 48	European Commission
UK	48 a week on average	You can choose to opt out	GOV.UK
US	No legal limit for adults	Overtime pay (1.5 times) above 40 a week, for most workers	US Department of Labor
Australia	38 a week	Only "reasonable" extra hours	Fair Work
Canada (federal workplaces)	40 a week	Usually 48 a week in total	Government of Canada

Rules have exceptions, and some jobs are not covered. A labour office can tell you which rules apply to you.

Where can I get help with my working hours?

These official services explain your rights. Most are free.

Country	Who to contact	Source
Japan	Working conditions hotline 0120-811-610 (free; weekday evenings and weekends; 13 languages)	MHLW
South Korea	Ministry of Employment and Labor 1350 (weekdays 9am to 6pm)	MOEL
Mainland China	Labour and social security line 12333	MOHRSS
Taiwan	Labour hotline 1955 (free, 24 hours, 5 languages)	Ministry of Labor
Malaysia	Labour Department (JTKSM) 03-8000 8000, or the Working for Workers app	JTKSM
Singapore	Ministry of Manpower	MOM
UK	Acas helpline 0300 123 1100 (weekdays 8am to 6pm)	Acas
US	Wage and Hour Division 1-866-487-9243 (weekdays 8am to 4:30pm local time)	US Department of Labor
Australia	Fair Work Infoline 13 13 94	Fair Work

For Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan, our guides explain how families claim compensation: Japan, South Korea, mainland China and Taiwan.

What if my country has no word for death from overwork?

Most countries have no special word. You can still have rights.

• Working-hour limits. Most countries limit hours or pay extra for overtime. See the table above.
• Workers' compensation. Many countries pay compensation for illness or death caused by work. Ask your labour office how it works where you live.
• Proof matters most. Claims often depend on showing the hours and the strain. Your daily record is your best evidence.
• Deadlines are real. Every country sets time limits for claims. Ask about them early.
• You do not have to do it alone. A union, a legal aid service or a lawyer can help.

What can you do this week?

You do not have to change your whole life at once. Choose one small thing:

• Write down your hours tonight.
• Book a check-up, and tell the doctor about your hours.
• Sleep one hour more on one night.
• Tell one person you trust how hard work has been.

Your health matters more than any deadline. You deserve rest, care and a life outside work.