In the Philippines, overtime isn’t a red flag — it’s practically the national sport nobody signed up for.
The “8-hour workday” exists only in HR manuals, while reality runs on extra shifts, late-night emails, and coffee-fueled survival mode.
Bosses call it “commitment,” but the receipts say burnout, empty weekends, and bodies clocking out long before their ID cards do.
What’s sold as hustle is actually slow-motion self-destruction dressed up in corporate pep talk.
How overtime became the country’s unofficial side hustle
Overtime in the Philippines isn’t an exception—it’s the expectation.
Millions of Filipino workers regularly exceed the standard eight-hour workday. In 2015, over 8.1 million employees logged more than 48 hours per week, marking a 41% increase in overworked employees since 1995. By 2013, two-thirds of the country’s workforce were already clocking more than 40 hours weekly, making the nation’s average workweek about 43 hours—among the highest globally.
This normalization stems largely from economic pressure. Low wages and rising living costs push many to seek extra hours simply to survive. As of early 2025, 6.47 million employed Filipinos—13.3% of the labor force—were looking for additional work or hours to supplement their income.
Cultural attitudes reinforce the trend. A deeply ingrained belief equates hard work and sacrifice for family with moral worth, leading many to view long hours as proof of ambition. Overtime is often worn as a badge of honor, with some proudly calling themselves “workaholics” despite the devastating health consequences.
Workplace dynamics also play a role. In the BPO sector, for instance, overtime is technically voluntary, but employees report that refusing it can result in retaliation, such as being denied future leave requests. Weak enforcement of labor standards leaves employees vulnerable, making extended hours feel like the price of keeping a job.
Burnout as the business model
Burnout has become a quiet epidemic in the Philippine workforce. In 2024, a Southeast Asia–wide study found that 70.7% of Filipino employees reported feeling burnt out—the highest rate in the region. Workers clocking over 50 hours weekly were significantly more likely to experience severe fatigue and disengagement.
This crisis is visible across industries:
- Corporate and BPO – Young professionals, especially in call centers, work long night shifts to serve global clients. Many log 10–12 hours daily. In 2017, a 23-year-old advertising employee collapsed and died after weeks of intense overtime, sparking national debate about overwork. A 2022 survey revealed that 70% of Gen Z workers and 63% of millennials felt burned out, with over half witnessing colleagues quit due to work-related pressure.
- Education – Public school teachers endure crushing workloads, putting in an estimated 400 hours of unpaid overtime annually on top of teaching hours. This leaves little time for rest, eroding both personal well-being and teaching quality.
- Healthcare – Nurses and frontliners have been stretched to breaking point, especially since the pandemic. Low pay, understaffing, and overtime have driven mass resignations—around 40% of nurses in private hospitals have quit since 2020. Burnout is now contributing to the country’s worsening nursing shortage, with many choosing to work abroad instead.
Overwork’s bill: illness and resignations
The toll on health is undeniable. Studies link working 55 hours or more weekly to a higher risk of stroke compared to a standard 35–40-hour week. Chronic stress also contributes to heart disease, hypertension, and weakened immunity. Mental health suffers as well, with burnout strongly associated with higher rates of depression and anxiety.
The impact extends beyond personal health. Overworked employees tend to make more mistakes, have lower creativity, and suffer from reduced productivity over time. High turnover—fueled by resignations from burnout—costs companies in recruitment and training. It also contributes to brain drain, especially in sectors like healthcare and education, where talent is already scarce.
On a human level, overwork erodes family life and social relationships. Many workers come home too drained to spend time with loved ones, reinforcing a cycle of isolation and fatigue.
Rewiring a rest-averse culture
Tackling overwork will require action from both policymakers and employers. Legislators have called for inquiries into excessive work hours and for stronger enforcement of overtime pay laws. Proposals include setting caps on maximum hours, mandating rest periods, and providing hazard pay in high-burnout industries such as BPOs.
Some companies have introduced wellness programs, flexible schedules, and mental health initiatives. While 80% of young employees say their employers now prioritize well-being more than before, many still feel these efforts are insufficient without addressing root causes like understaffing and unrealistic workloads.
Ultimately, cultural change is as critical as policy reform. Filipinos must challenge the notion that longer hours automatically mean greater success. Setting boundaries, valuing rest, and recognizing that overwork is neither sustainable nor admirable are essential steps. As health experts warn, no career milestone is worth the risk of working oneself to death.
Clock out before it clocks you
Overtime has become so woven into Filipino work culture that it’s often invisible—but the burnout, health crises, and talent losses it causes are anything but. Treating this as a normal cost of ambition only ensures the silent crisis grows louder.
