For Arizona's workforce, the stress levels are peaking. A study by business resource website LLC.org has placed Phoenix, Glendale, and Tucson on the nation's map of most stressful cities for employees. Phoenix sits uncomfortably at No. 9, Glendale at No. 12, whereas Tucson takes a somewhat less worrisome No. 38 spot. This analysis, which cast a scrutinizing eye over 100 cities across the country, found that locals are battling against lengthy workweeks and tedious commutes that are taking a toll on their overall well-being, as reported by ABC15.

Further findings by LLC.org suggest that the average Scottsdale worker is enduring the country's longest workweek, clocking in at 40.8 hours. Across the United States, employees labor for an average of 36.4 hours and spend nearly 53 minutes daily getting to and from work. Unfortunately, Phoenix residents face an even grimmer reality with a 39.3-hour workweek and an average commute of 24.9 minutes. Moreover, 39.1% are hitting the road before the crack of dawn at 7 a.m., and an alarming 16.3% are doing so without the safety net of health insurance.

As reported by LLC.org, financial pressures exacerbate the situation; Americans spend over $14,000 annually to work from an office, according to a Finder study. With the median household income hovering around $75,149, these expenses are not trivial, especially for the 80.2% of workers traveling by their own transport.

It's not just the physical grind causing distress, it's the psychological aftermath too, with 42% confessing a sense of dread upon returning to work post-vacation, mentioned a survey by MyBioSource. These are figures that can’t simply be shrugged off, certainly, not when an individual’s health and psychological state are at stake, as well as their economic stability.

The studies shone a light on contrasts within Arizona itself. For instance, Glendale boasts an average workweek of 38.5 hours and a commute of 27.4 minutes. The city has 39.9% of its workforce punching in before 7 a.m, and 17.9% without health insurance, according to the bright minds at LLC.org. Tucson, on the other end, sees a slightly shorter workweek with 36.9 hours and 21.8 minutes of commute. Yet, it faces a struggling economic scenario with an income growth rate of a meager 1.9%.

Looking broadly, as depicted in the Business Journal, cities like Madison and Richmond sit at the opposite end of this spectrum. They represent working environments with shorter weeks, and less dawn-breaking commutes alongside better income trajectories. For those clocking in Arizona, however, the daily grind remains a stern, stress-inducing reality poised for scrutiny and, hopefully, future alleviation.