taking their work commitments to unhealthy lengths

Germans have a reputation for efficiency and organisation, but some
employees are taking their work commitments to unhealthy lengths. A recent
study show two thirds of the German workforce responds to business
correspondence out of office hours - even if they're on holidays. So when
does dedication turn into addiction?

The DW-WORLD.DE Article
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=ew5p2xI44va89pI1


length
n.

1. The state, quality, or fact of being long. See Usage Note at strength.
2. The measurement of the extent of something along its greatest dimension: the length of the boat.
3. A piece, often of a standard size, that is normally measured along its greatest dimension: a length of cloth.
4. A measure used as a unit to estimate distances: won the race by a length.
5. Extent or distance from beginning to end: the length of a novel; the length of a journey.
6. The amount of time between specified moments; the duration: the length of a meeting.
7. Extent or degree to which an action or policy is carried. Often used in the plural: went to great lengths to prove his point.
8. Linguistics.
   1. The duration of a vowel.
   2. The duration of a syllable.
9. The vertical extent of a garment. Often used in combination: knee-length; floor-length.

idiom:

at length

1. After some time; eventually: At length we arrived at our destination.
2. For a considerable time; fully: spoke at length about the court ruling.

[Middle English, from Old English lengthu.]