A study by Dr. Jeffrey Pfeffer (Stanford) and Dr. Joel Goh (Harvard), published in Behavioral Science & Policy, found that work-related stress can significantly damage health and even shorten lifespan. Based on 228 studies, the researchers identified key stress factors; long working hours, lack of control, and job insecurity as major contributors to poor health. Job insecurity increased the odds of reporting poor health by 50%, high demands raised the risk of illness by 35%, and long hours increased mortality by nearly 20%. While the study stops short of a direct comparison, the researchers note that the health risks from toxic workplaces may rival those of secondhand smoke—and in some cases, be even more harmful than smoking itself.