Working is actually good for your health, says Commission study

Date: 30/05/02

By Martin Banks

NEW European Union research suggests that, contrary to what millions of employees may think, work is actually good for your health.

The study, on behalf of the European Commission, set out to assess the impact of unemployment on mortality patterns and life expectancy in EU countries.

It found a direct link between ill health and long periods of joblessness. Those in work usually enjoy better health and live longer, it says.

'It is clear from the findings that despite long-term advances in the material standard of living, increased unemployment, or loss of employment, is a major source of damage to a population's health,' states the report.

'Even when workers are able to re-enter the labour force, workers changing employers lose seniority which may affect their pay and redundancy rights. All these conditions are important in the decline of economic social status of families and are of great potential importance in their health and life expectation.'

It concludes: 'Clearly, the lower the economic status of an individual or family, the greater the likelihood of illness, disability and death.'

The study, Unemployment and public health, was carried out by the Berlin University of Technology.

• Meanwhile, new research shows that temporary agency workers across the EU suffer poorer working conditions than permanent staff.

The findings by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions reveals that temporary staff also receive less training and suffer poorer job security.

'Temporary agency work has the potential to offer economic benefits to firms,' said the agency's research manager, Ola Persson. 'The study shows this can be done without the erosion or circumvention of employment standards in the company.'

Report of a study, 'Unemployment and public health', which assesses the impact of unemployment on mortality patterns and life expectancy in EU countries.