In many countries, people are working longer hours than ever before. What are the causes of this trend, and what effects does it have on individuals and society?

The principal cause of longer hours is financial. Wages in many countries have failed to keep pace with the price of housing, food and education, so employees take on overtime or a second job simply to maintain the standard of living their parents enjoyed on a single salary. In Casablanca,

for instance

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, many young professionals drive for ride-hailing apps in the evening because their daytime pay no longer covers the rent. Closely linked to

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is the role of digital devices. Smartphones deliver emails and messages at every hour, and staff who ignore them risk appearing uncommitted, so,

consequently

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, the boundary between the office and home has almost disappeared.

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, the effects of

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pattern are far from harmless. The most serious is the toll on health, since chronic lack of sleep and rest raises the risk of heart disease, anxiety and burnout, and exhausted workers make more mistakes than rested ones.

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, families pay a heavy price. Parents who return home after their children are asleep miss the daily conversations that build trust, and,

as a result

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, the next generation grows up with less guidance than it needs. Society as a whole suffers too, because communities depend on volunteers, local clubs and neighbours with time to spare, and all of these fade when every spare hour is sold to an employer.