Dying for a Good Job

A price too great

This South China Morning Post article details the deaths this week of two 40-something year old finance executives based in Hong Kong. They are Li Kai, chief executive of mainland-based Bosera Asset Management, and Mark Liinamaa, a research analyst with Citigroup. Li died of a brain hemorrhage while Liinamaa died of a heart attack. Both were on business trips when the tragedies befell them. Both deaths were attributed in part to work-related stress. The article also makes reference to two other similarly sudden deaths that have taken place on the Mainland in the last few years.

 

Often, the creation of personal wealth is a cause for pride and celebration. Hong Kong and China have experienced much of it in the past decade, even after the 2008 financial crisis. However, nothing good comes without certain costs, most of all to personal health. Work pressure, frequent travel, rich meals, heavy drinking and lack of exercise and life balance can exert a heavy price. Sometimes, sadly, that amount is incalculably high.