Life's too short to work yourself into an early grave

Heard the one about the employee who worked himself to death? Tragically this is no joke. Earlier this week a labour bureau in Tokyo ruled that a top car engineer employed by Toyota died from karoshi which means 'sudden death from overwork'. It's an extreme case and although Japan is notorious for its high pressure working environment, it could happen anywhere.

Shockingly, in the two months prior to the 45-year-old man's untimely demise, he averaged 80 hours overtime a week working on the prototype of the auto-giant's Camry line. He eventually collapsed and died of ischemic heart disease at home and his daughter found his body. It is a tragic story and a wake up call to the big corporates who push their employees to the limit as they drive forward their global expansion plans. Some industries are worse than others but the real criminals are those who consider extreme overtime 'part of the job'.

One friend of mine – a high-flying corporate lawyer – eventually quit his London post after several years of exhaustingly long hours. His wife rarely knew when he was coming home and if a really big deal was being signed, the lawyer was expected to work three, sometimes four days and nights on the trot. It was made very clear that if he wanted to grow in the company he had to prove his commitment by clocking up the hours.

But the cost of those long hours was no social life, poor health and a strained relationship with his wife. Eventually he had to make a choice – his career or his personal life. Thankfully, for his own sanity and that of his wife's, he chose his personal life and found a job in a tropical environment with a much healthier work/life balance.

It was the right decision for him but for others the rat race is what life is all about. They get so focused on getting ahead they literally work themselves into an early grave, and for what? The belief that you've got to chain yourself to your desk to reach the top of the tree does not come from the staff - it comes from the management. Yes everyone needs to put in their quota of hours – that's what you are paid to do – but to work six, seven, eight or more extra hours at the expense of your own sanity is stupid.

Companies must examine their policies if they expect their staff to work regular overtime. A one off to finish a big project is fine but a regular habit is dangerous.

Toyota has offered its condolences to the deceased employee's family and promises to monitor the health of its staff. But it's not the first time the company has been under the spotlight. Last year a court ordered the company to compensate the wife of a 30-year-old employee who collapsed and died at work. And nobody wants to buy a new car knowing that someone had to die making it.