Climbing Back Up: A U-Shaped Overtime–Inclusion Curve Contingent on Work Values—Evidence from China

While numerous researchers and practitioners view overtime as uniformly detrimental, growing evidence reveals complexity and overlooked benefits, particularly for social inclusion. This study focuses specifically on the impact of overtime work on social inclusion within the framework of Chinese culture and institutions, as well as the moderating effect of environmental factors. Drawing on extended-self theory, we propose that as overtime hours increase, the association between work hours and social inclusion becomes U-shaped. By contrast, this association may be moderated by environmental factors, such as work value. As expected, by conducting hierarchical regression analysis following Janssen’s three-step procedure, a sample ( n = 529) of Chinese employees from the China Labor-Force Dynamics Survey (CLD) supported that the U-shaped relationship between overtime work and employees’ social inclusion. In addition, the curvilinear association between overtime work and social inclusion is significantly moderated by employees’ work values. The findings align with sustainability agendas that emphasize decent work, inclusion, and long-term employee well-being. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.