Mexico Leads in Hours Worked, But Productivity Remains Low: The Importance of Addressing Psychosocial Risks in the Workplace

Mexico leads in the number of hours worked, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), but this does not translate into high productivity. With 2,137 hours per year per worker, Mexico almost doubles the number seen in world powers like the United States and Canada. Despite this, the contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) for each hour worked is very low, at only 22.2 dollars per hour contributed to the economy. This is well below countries with fewer working hours, such as the United States at 77.1 dollars, and Ireland at 1,772 hours worked per year, which contributes 109.5 dollars per hour worked.

However, it’s important to note that productivity is not solely determined by the number of hours worked. It’s a complex issue that involves various factors such as work culture, attention to psychosocial risks and care for workers’ mental health. Workplace presenteeism has become a growing problem that affects both employees and companies worldwide. It refers to when a worker attends their job but their performance is subpar due to factors such as excessive workloads, stress, anxiety or depression.

Research from Affor Health shows that workplace presenteeism impacts companies’ productivity significantly. Neglecting psychosocial risks in the workplace can lead to presenteeism which can lower overall productivity levels. As companies navigate returning to offices after COVID-19 pandemic many are reevaluating their processes and recognizing that simply responding to emails does not equate to productivity which is closely linked with mental health and organizational climate. Companies need to assess their risks and implement measures that support their employees’ mental health in order to boost productivity levels and contribute positively towards economic growth.