‘Working hard is not overworking’

GEORGE TOWN: Working hard does not necessarily mean one is overworked or that one’s work-life balance is out of whack, say corporate leaders here.

Being highly skilled at what you do as an occupation and then being driven to accomplish your goals can be rewarding in their own right, said Malaysian Semiconductor Industry Association president Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai.

Stressing that Malaysia is on the cusp of becoming a productive and globally competitive nation, he said hard work in itself does not equate to being overworked.

Both sides of the coin: Wong (left) and Dr Prem Kumar.

In the semiconductor industry, Wong said employers strictly follow labour laws and allow workers the freedom of choosing to work long hours or even to work from home for those whose jobs allow them to do so.

“Multinational companies employ tens of thousands of workers and must strictly follow international working standards under the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), prohibiting any infringement on workers’ rights,” he said.

Wong was responding to the recent survey on work-life balance conducted by Remote, a global human resource services company, which ranked Malaysia at 59 out of 60, with a meagre score of 27.51 out of 100, just a notch above Nigeria, which scored 17.03.

The study, done in March last year, found that workers in Malaysian were averaging a 40.8-hour work-week, with only an average of 16 days’ annual leave, and a minimum wage of RM5.05 per hour, leaving them with little time to rest and recover.

RBA is a non-profit organisation devoted to protecting the rights and well-being of workers and communities worldwide in the global electronics supply chain, with companies that are part of RBA running the risk of being blacklisted or censured if they are found to have broken the group’s rules.

Wong said Malaysia enjoys one of the highest number of public holidays in the world, so it does not make sense to say workers here do not have adequate time off.

“We absolutely should not have been put in the same category as some developed countries, which have different measurements of work-life balance that are not applicable here,” he said.

SME Association Malaysia northern chairman Calvin Kwan said even SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in Malaysia adopted the United Nations’ principles on Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance.

“Many companies actually want to create a happy working environment simply because it will increase productivity and loyalty.

“We aim to create a bond among workers so that during times of a production ramp-up, we get good teamwork,” said Kwan, who stressed that workers now are more sophisticated and know their rights.

On the flip side, there are those who have to seek therapy due to work-related issues.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Prem Kumar Chandrasekaran from the Penang Adventist Hospital said people who sought treatment for anxiety and hypertension usually did so as a result of work.

“We are talking about people between the ages of 20 and 40, some with weak immune systems. Early intervention is necessary due to a number of them having suicidal thoughts,” he said.

“Putting in more than 55 hours of work per week is associated with 1.3 times more incidences of depression and anxiety – sleep deprivation can lead to problems too.

“Add fatigue into this and the result is diminished productivity and the risk of burnout,” said Dr Prem Kumar, adding that work hours should be capped at between 38 and 45 hours a week.

However, he clarified that those facing work-related stress may not necessarily be workaholics but may instead be grappling with a shift in the nature of work or workplace expectations, especially in the post-pandemic period.“Many of my patients are not aware of this connection between poor work-life balance and their stress symptoms.

“The best way to handle this is to pause and evaluate your situation, assess your priorities, enhance your time management, establish boundaries with management, reflect on the changes made, refine them and repeat the flow that works.

“Balance efficiency at work by rewarding that accomplishment with ‘me-time’, moments with family, and doing things that you love,” he added.