Stress Check: Are Malaysians Overworked and Sleep-Deprived?

Working overtime day in and day out, going beyond the terms of our employment contracts, feels like spinning plates that aren’t even ours to begin with. One thing to note, work-related stress follows you everywhere, until it's properly managed.

By Kimberly Chang on 2024-03-12 at 7:59 AM

Updated on 2025-01-28 at 2:14 AM

Are Malaysians caught in a relentless cycle of stress, overwork, and sleep deprivation? It’s a question worth pondering as recent reports shed light on the alarming trends in our work culture. 

You probably wouldn’t be surprised to learn that KL is home to one of the most overworked populations in the world, trailing only behind Dubai and Hong Kong, stated in this report by the access technology firm, Kisi.

A recent study from the American Insurance Association (AIA) revealed that a staggering 51% of Malaysian employees suffered from work-related stress, with 53% getting less than seven hours of sleep a day. These statistics paint a troubling picture of a workforce teetering on the brink of burnout and exhaustion. 

Work-life balance seems light years away when Malaysians are deeply entrenched in the hustle culture. What begins as a drive for success can quickly spiral into a never ending cycle of chronic work stress and mental exhaustion. The concept of ‘job creep’, where employees are pressured into taking on extra responsibilities beyond what is outlined in their job descriptions, exacerbates the issue. 

Is there no way out of the woods for the Stress-Prone?

“Don’t shy away from taking on more responsibility. This is how you learn.”

“You’re new around here. Everybody goes through the same thing. Do more and you’ll be rewarded.”

“You’re too young and inexperienced to be complaining about the amount of workload assigned to you.”

If you are constantly expected to perform duties outside your job description, especially on top of an overwhelming workload, you’re very likely to have fallen prey to job creep. 

Briefly put, job creep, or workload inflation, is used to describe when employees are asked to do more than what they’re getting paid for. This happens for various reasons, often due to team restructuring, recruitment budget constraints, unclear expectations, etc.

Working overtime day in and day out, going beyond the terms of our employment contracts, feels like spinning plates that aren’t even ours to begin with. Left unchecked, this can have serious repercussions on both personal and professional life. 

While it may seem counterintuitive, a study by Stanford concluded that working longer hours does not necessarily translate to greater productivity. Your body speaks to you when it needs something, and you should listen. It’s high time we start setting better boundaries and putting our own well-being first in the workplace.

However, be mindful that your reaction to all this can either build bridges or burn them, potentially impacting your relationship with bosses and future career prospects in the industry. Before you initiate an honest conversation with your manager about workload concerns, finding the balance between being helpful and being taken advantage of is key. There are many ways to go about this. Taking a diplomatic approach, while addressing the issue assertively, can help navigate this delicate balance. 

Rather than straight up saying “this is not my job”, give yourself a buffer and consider the perspective of the person making the request. What could be their underlying motivation? Are they delegating because they perceive us as a dumping ground for other people’s work, or perhaps because they genuinely believe in our ability to tackle more challenging tasks? In such instances, saying yes could potentially open doors to greater career progression, as long as we’re not working in a chronically understaffed, stress-inducing environment where there are no clear boundaries, everything is a mess, and everyone is doing 10 things at once. 

It’s important to figure out if our hesitation comes from a lack of confidence or simply being swamped at the moment. If it’s the latter, learning the art of politely declining a request is necessary. You wouldn’t want to come off as defensive and unhelpful:

I’d love to be able to help, but my hands are full at the moment. Before I commit, why don’t you fill me in on the details? I’ll see where it fits with my other priorities.

In cases where they expect immediate assistance but you are currently tied up, try something along the lines of:

I understand the urgency, but I have pressing matters to attend to right now. I will get back to you as soon as my current tasks are completed. 

Navigating such conversations can be tricky, but it’s a skill worth cultivating for your own well-being and professional development. Instead of solely apologising for prioritising your own needs, approach the conversation with a solution-oriented mindset - so you don't end up putting additional stress on yourself.

Before you commit, make sure your own priorities are taken care of. Before you blurt out ‘sorry, I can’t’, shift the focus towards finding mutually beneficial solutions where you can support your colleagues while still managing your workload effectively!

We believe you deserve to grow your career in a positive, stress-free environment with supportive colleagues that realise your full potential.

Related Reads for a Healthier Career:

• 7 Signs of a Great Company Culture
• How to Politely Decline Job Tasks Beyond Your Role
• 5 Ways to Achieve Better Work-Life Balance

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By Kimberly Chang on 2024-03-12 at 7:59 AM