Escalating Job Insecurity, Overwork, and Economic Instability

Economic insecurity is a growing concern under the current administration, as millions of federal workers are being pushed to resign or potentially face layoffs. The repercussions of these policies and actions will exacerbate job loss beyond the public sector. Federal workers who remain in place will be faced with chronic overwork, and job instability. As well, millions of immigrant workers face deportation and/or job loss.  The “Musk” ethos-—pushing employees to work until they break (120-hour workweeks) and firing those who won’t or can’t—leaves little incentive for some employers to consider the harmful effects of excessive work intensity.  Additionally, higher unemployment could further reduce employers’ motivation to address workers’ mental health needs. The Trump administration has also consistently opposed progressive labor policies, favoring deregulation and corporate interests over worker-friendly reforms. These approaches not only harm individual workers and their physical, mental, and emotional health, but also ripple through families, communities, and the broader economy.

Examples:

• Job Insecurity and Loss
• • • Federal Budget Cuts: Proposals to cut funding for social programs and key public services threaten widespread layoffs in sectors like education, healthcare, and government agencies.
    • Immigration Deportation Policies: Increased deportations and stricter immigration laws disproportionately affect immigrant workers, many of whom are essential to industries such as agriculture, construction, and healthcare. The loss of this labor pool creates economic instability for workers and employers alike.

• Overwork and Burnout

1. 1. • Research shows that high job demands and excessive workloads are linked to serious health issues, including cardiovascular diseases, mental health problems, and workplace injuries. 
      • Global data from the World Health Organization indicates that long work hours contribute to nearly 745,000 deaths annually due to overwork-related health issues. But even this figure is a gross underestimate. In the United States alone, workplace stress is linked to approximately 120,000 deaths annually, according to a Stanford study—and this does not fully account for the long-term health impacts of chronic work stress, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and mental health disorders.

• Impact on Worker Health and Productivity
  • • Economic instability and overwork lead to heightened stress, reduced job satisfaction, and increased absenteeism, ultimately lowering productivity and harming organizational success.
    • Workers in precarious jobs face greater health risks due to lack of protections, benefits, and a sense of control over their work environment.

HWC Supported Solutions

HWC emphasizes the need for systemic solutions to address job insecurity, overwork, and economic instability to help foster workplaces where workers thrive, productivity improves, and worker health and well-being is prioritized. These efforts are crucial not just for individual well-being but for creating a resilient economy in 2025 and beyond. However, in the newly “downsized” Trump economy, workers will have less leverage to negotiate for greater flexibility, remote work and healthy working conditions.

1. Advocate for Economic and Job Protections 
   • Strengthen policies that protect against layoffs by pushing for investments in public services and social programs.
   • Promote legislation that ensures fair wages, predictable schedules, and access to benefits for all workers, including part-time, gig, and contract employees, and strengthens workers’ rights to unionize
2. Address High Job Demands and Overwork
   • Encourage employers to adopt healthier work schedules by limiting excessive overtime and creating systems that promote work-life balance.
   • Use evidence-based strategies to convince those employers who are concerned about retaining their workforce, to reduce workload stress, such as allowing for  flexible schedules, improving task allocation, and providing resources to manage job demands (support, control etc).
3. Support Immigrant Workers
   • Oppose immigration policies that destabilize industries reliant on immigrant labor, advocating instead for pathways to citizenship and protections that allow these workers to contribute safely and effectively.
4. Raise Awareness About Health Risks
   • Educate policymakers, employers, and the public on the connection between overwork, economic insecurity, and poor health outcomes. Use campaigns to highlight the economic and social benefits of healthier work environments.
5. Build Collaborative Solutions
   • Work with labor unions, occupational safety groups, and community organizations to push for comprehensive worker protections that address both job security and overwork.
   • Use evidenced-based approaches to encourage employers to adopt policies that prioritize worker health as a key driver of organizational success.
6. Highlight Successful Models
   • Share examples of organizations and countries where work-hour regulations, fair scheduling, and strong social safety nets have led to healthier, more productive workers and reduced economic fallout.

HWC Sources/Materials
Video: Marnie Dobson (HWC) – Why We can’t put the Economy over People
Video: Peter Schnall (HWC) – on impact of job loss and job insecurity
HWC Blog: WHO/ILO: Long work hours contribute to deaths worldwide
HWC Fact Sheet: Reduce High Job Demands and Workloads