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Long Working Hours linked to Increased risky Alcohol Use
Employees who work more than 48 hours per week are more likely to engage in risky alcohol consumption than those who work standard weeks, finds a new study recently published in The British Medical Jouurnal.
Risky alcohol consumption is considered as more than 14 drinks per week for women and more than 21 drinks per week for men. It is believed to increase risk of adverse health problems, including liver diseases, cancer, stroke, coronary heart disease and mental disorders.
In a cross sectional analysis of 333,693 people in 14 countries, they found that longer working hours increased the likelihood of higher alcohol use by 11%. A prospective analysis found a similar increase in risk of 12% for onset of risky alcohol use in 100,602 people from 9 countries.
Individual participant data from 18 prospective studies showed that those who worked 49-54 hours and 55 hours per week or more were found to have an increased risk of 13% and 12% respectively of risky alcohol consumption compared with those who worked 35-40 hours per week.
"The workplace is an important setting for the prevention of alcohol misuse, because more than half of the adult population are employed," write the team of researchers. “Further research is needed to assess whether preventive interventions against risky alcohol use could benefit from information on working hours."
Minister confident Paid Paternity Leave on way
The Labour Party Equality Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin states that he is "confident” that the Family Leave Bill, which is due to take place at the end of this year will allow for two weeks' paid paternity leave. The Bill will be introduced at the end of the year, and will also merge the current provisions for maternity, adoptive and parental and carer’s leave.
Ó Ríordáin speaking on RTE’s Prime Time stated that he feels that paid paternity leave in Ireland is "something that we are well behind on". He hopes with the introduction of the Family Leave Bill he will be able to amend this.
The Minister stated that steps must be taken as "most European countries have statutory paternity leave" and said that he is “as confident as I can be at this stage that there will be two weeks paid paternity leave in that legislation”. Minister Ó Ríordáin stated that “Things can change and priorities can change, but I know that I'm committed to it and I know that Minister (Frances) Fitzgerald is committed to it and as I say it's an important start to the conversation about what we want from Irish society for parents, for families."
Engagement and discussions with Employers have not yet occurred but the Minister stated that the priority will be what’s best for children. He also stated that he believes “this should be a rolling conversation about what type of society we want. What our value system is when it comes to parenting”.
Long Working Hours linked to Increased risky Alcohol Use
Employees who work more than 48 hours per week are more likely to engage in risky alcohol consumption than those who work standard weeks, finds a new study recently published in The British Medical Jouurnal.
Risky alcohol consumption is considered as more than 14 drinks per week for women and more than 21 drinks per week for men. It is believed to increase risk of adverse health problems, including liver diseases, cancer, stroke, coronary heart disease and mental disorders.
In a cross sectional analysis of 333,693 people in 14 countries, they found that longer working hours increased the likelihood of higher alcohol use by 11%. A prospective analysis found a similar increase in risk of 12% for onset of risky alcohol use in 100,602 people from 9 countries.
Individual participant data from 18 prospective studies showed that those who worked 49-54 hours and 55 hours per week or more were found to have an increased risk of 13% and 12% respectively of risky alcohol consumption compared with those who worked 35-40 hours per week.
"The workplace is an important setting for the prevention of alcohol misuse, because more than half of the adult population are employed," write the team of researchers. “Further research is needed to assess whether preventive interventions against risky alcohol use could benefit from information on working hours."
Minister confident Paid Paternity Leave on way
The Labour Party Equality Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin states that he is "confident” that the Family Leave Bill, which is due to take place at the end of this year will allow for two weeks' paid paternity leave. The Bill will be introduced at the end of the year, and will also merge the current provisions for maternity, adoptive and parental and carer’s leave.
Ó Ríordáin speaking on RTE’s Prime Time stated that he feels that paid paternity leave in Ireland is "something that we are well behind on". He hopes with the introduction of the Family Leave Bill he will be able to amend this.
The Minister stated that steps must be taken as "most European countries have statutory paternity leave" and said that he is “as confident as I can be at this stage that there will be two weeks paid paternity leave in that legislation”. Minister Ó Ríordáin stated that “Things can change and priorities can change, but I know that I'm committed to it and I know that Minister (Frances) Fitzgerald is committed to it and as I say it's an important start to the conversation about what we want from Irish society for parents, for families."
Engagement and discussions with Employers have not yet occurred but the Minister stated that the priority will be what’s best for children. He also stated that he believes “this should be a rolling conversation about what type of society we want. What our value system is when it comes to parenting”.
