A group of researchers found that working more than three days a week after reaching the age of forty negatively impacts productivity, so they advised that as the employee ages, their workload should decrease, and their vacation days should increase, according to the website yourtango.
According to research published in the Melbourne Institute’s working paper series, a two-day weekend is not sufficient. For workers in their forties to be more focused and careful at work, they need longer than that, specifically a weekend of at least four days.
The report indicated that "work is a double-edged sword; it stimulates brain activity, but at the same time, long working hours and certain types of tasks can lead to exhaustion and stress, which may harm cognitive functions. For middle-aged and elderly workers, part-time working hours are more beneficial and effective in maintaining cognitive functions."
Research has shown that part-time work is much more beneficial for the cognitive functions of adults over 40 years old.
The researchers noted that "for working hours of about 25 hours per week, increasing work hours has a positive effect on cognitive functions. However, when work hours exceed 25 hours per week, the increase in work hours has a negative impact on cognition."
Test results showed that participants who were unemployed or working full-time scored about 15% lower than those working 25 hours per week. The researchers also found no significant differences in results between men and women, meaning that long working hours could affect anyone's cognitive abilities regardless of their gender.
On the other hand, a study conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) in 2024 revealed even more concerning statistics. One in five Americans over the age of fifty has no retirement savings, meaning practically that they will never be able to retire. Considering that experts advise aiming to replace 80% of pre-retirement income to ensure a decent life afterward, anyone without any savings will be forced to work indefinitely.
