Impacts of the Working Day in the 21st Century: The Psychosomatic Illness of Workers

Abstract

The workday is one of the main structuring axes of the contemporary worker's life, as it directly impacts their physical, mental, and psychological health. Increased work hours, the intensification of tasks, and the precariousness of working conditions are recurrent in a scenario marked by productivist logic and the neoliberal model, which transforms life time into production time. This reality is part of the process of "privatization of existence," in which the individual is submissive to capital, losing autonomy and health in pursuit of unattainable goals. This study aimed to analyze the impacts of working hours on workers' health, with an emphasis on physical, mental, and psychological illness. Using a theoretical-methodological approach based on an integrative literature review, 13 articles published between 2016 and 2025 were selected through a Google Scholar search. The results indicate a predominance of theoretical studies, with a scarcity of empirical research, reinforcing the need for investigations in the real work context. The main consequences of working hours were identified as physical impacts that result in fatigue, occupational stress, and an increased risk of workplace accidents. Mental impacts, such as mental exhaustion and emotional exhaustion, are also noted as direct consequences of multiple responsibilities and long hours, characteristics of burnout. Added to this are the psychological impacts, where work overload and precarious working conditions contribute to the development of psychological illnesses. The sources consulted demonstrate that work organization can contain pathogenic elements, promoting ethical, subjective, and existential suffering. Also noteworthy in this context are excessive demands for productivity, a lack of institutional listening, and the absence of ergonomics in the workplace. Based on the literature, measures such as reduced working hours, the creation of psychological support spaces, the adoption of ergonomic measures, and the regulation of the right to digital disconnection are suggested. The conclusion is that addressing this scenario depends on the general restructuring of working conditions and requires humane management practices, effective public policies, rigorous enforcement of labor standards, and the implementation of ergonomic measures that adapt work to individuals' actual capabilities, preserving their overall health.