When 100-hour work weeks become the norm, who pays the ultimate price? Join us on this gripping episode of the Work Wire as Johnny C. Taylor Jr., CEO of SHRM, and I uncover the startling realities of extreme work hours faced by junior bankers at Bank of America. We pull back the curtain on the life-threatening consequences of relentless overwork, sharing harrowing anecdotes from a Wall Street Journal article that spotlight the dire need for recovery periods. By drawing parallels to high-level athletes who require rest to perform at their best, we underscore the unsustainable and damaging nature of prolonged overwork, not just to employees, but to the entire business.

Ethical and legal implications come into sharp focus as we address the pressure on employees to falsify time records and the responsibilities that people managers have in safeguarding well-being. We delve into the necessity of adhering to the Fair Labor Standards Act and how organizations can often reflect broader cultural issues. From courageous conversations with top performers to the potential benefit of increased staffing, we explore practical solutions for maintaining a healthy work culture. Finally, we emphasize the vital role of personal agency and the critical need for HR and upper management to foster environments where employees can thrive, even in the most demanding roles.