Being a workaholic is often seen as a good thing, far better than any other addiction, and far more likely to “reward” those who really commit to the grind. But is a “workaholic” work culture really good for individuals and their organizations? We’d have to say no to this one.
Workaholic work cultures are disguised under many different words and phrases in the modern world: hustle culture, productivity-driven mindsets, the 996 grind, and the list goes on. Many even take workaholic to mean that someone is hardworking, even though the two terms are not always synonymous with each other. Being a workaholic is often seen as something to be proud of, as it immediately leads people to assume that someone is dedicated to their careers and determined to work for their organization’s growth, however, most often, workaholics are driven by fear and the threat of being driven out of the business the moment they stop overcommitting to their jobs.
There are many reasons for workers overworking themselves to the point of burnout, but none of them truly make such a grind worth the rewards that are rumored to await at the other end of the tunnel.
The organizational work culture is often responsible for turning employees into workaholics, but this isn’t ideal for operations. (Image: Pexels)
A Work Culture That Turns Employees Into Workaholics Is One That Risks Burning Them Out
If you’ve ever worked in the corporate workplace, you’ve likely crossed paths with a workaholic or two. Workaholics are individuals whose lives revolve around the workplace, often arriving before everyone and leaving well after the rest of the organization has already tucked themselves into bed. Many workaholics go beyond their call of duty and take on additional tasks despite no openings in their schedule, and they’re always available for a meeting, whether it’s late at night or in the middle of their own wedding. Now, not all workaholics are this extreme in their commitment to their job, but they build their lives around their work and have little time for anything else.
A survey by Monster found that a majority of workers, 76% to be precise, consider themselves “at least somewhat workaholic,” with 45% doubling down on the fact that they are “definitely workaholics.” Nearly two-thirds of the respondents said they felt neutral or positive about the “workaholic” label, with 35% clarifying that they would see this as a compliment, 27% adding that they would feel respected, and 38% expressing neutrality about such a tag.
This means that a large majority of workers put in more hours than the traditional 40-hour workweek. Moreover, for the most part, workers seem to view this workaholic work culture as a normal and expected aspect of their employment. Employers might see this as a positive sign of a committed workforce, but glorifying workaholism at work is far from beneficial to the organization.
Why Do Employees Overwork Themselves?
Seeing how being a workaholic has been normalized and positively marketed to workers, it’s no surprise that many toil beyond their expected work hours. Monster also surveyed employees on their reasons for overworking themselves and turning into workaholics, and 47% attributed it to employer expectations or the company culture. When a workaholic work culture is promoted by employers, the decision to work overtime is no longer a voluntary choice.
While it’s true that 44% also pointed to personal ambition or desire for advancement as a reason for their workaholic tendencies, it still tells us that working beyond expectations is seen as the only path towards career growth. Again, this is no longer a voluntary choice out of interest but one that appears to be the only solution to success. The survey identified other reasons for employees overworking themselves, including a lack of boundaries between work and personal life, financial pressures, and the fear of job loss or layoffs.
It is apparent that workaholics are surrounded by a work culture where such single-minded focus on work is encouraged, but their desire to work doesn’t stem from a love for their jobs or their preoccupation with seeing a project to completion. External and internal pressures keep workers committed to workaholism, and this takes its toll on workers over time.
A Company Culture of Workaholics Doesn’t Necessarily Benefit the Business
It can be easy to presume that a workplace culture where workaholics thrive is great for business, as it has employees doubly committed to their jobs. This is not always the case. As Monster’s Workaholics Report found, 64% of those who regularly work overtime say their quality of work stays the same. Only about 20% report an improvement in their quality of work, while for 16%, their quality of work actually declines. This isn’t surprising.
There are often limits to how much employees can work in a day, and only a portion of this is fully productive work. Over time, employees start to get burnt out, no matter how eager they are to perform, and after having their attention saturated by the workplace, the quality of work starts to suffer. The overwork workplace survey also found that 50% of respondents reported mental health challenges like stress and anxiety, while 49% reported a negative impact on their physical health after disruptions to their sleep and low levels of exercise.
Additionally, 39% also claimed a negative impact on their personal relationships. Only 15% of respondents could claim to see no negative impacts of the workaholic work culture on their well-being. Being committed to your work is a positive trait, and so is taking initiative to expand beyond your workload every once in a while. However, with pay raises stagnating, promotions uncertain, and layoffs a distinct possibility, this degree of commitment to a 9-to-5 is unlikely to be healthy.
Organizations Should Look for Signs That They Are Promoting a Workaholic Workplace Culture and Address Them
Too much of anything can have a negative effect, whether it’s going to the gym, maintaining a diet of coffee and sweet treats, or working overtime. Being hardworking and committed to the job is a great quality in any employee, but pursuing work with the omission of everything else can leave workers overly reliant on their daily duties. Any negative feedback, project cancellations, team change, or the dreaded possibility of layoffs can have a very drastic effect on employees who are so tied to their work, leaving them depleted of the resources to face these challenges head-on.
Ensuring that the work culture is built on hard work is a great idea, however, encouraging workers to detach from their work on time and experience their life outside of the workplace in equal measure is also essential. Workaholic habits and tendencies tend to grow when workplaces demand more from their workers, such as being available 24/7 or leaving their PTO days unused. Dealing with workaholic colleagues also places an unnecessary burden on other employees, who are either forced to disrupt their own relationship with their work or distance themselves from such coworkers.
Identifying and addressing these shortcomings is essential for businesses that want to establish a healthy work culture. Allowing workers to set boundaries, determine their workloads, and manage their tasks with some degree of flexibility reduces the pressure on employees to overwork themselves and allows them to develop a healthier relationship with their career and workplace. Balance is essential for any operation, regardless of the industry or employee role.
Have you ever experienced a work culture where workaholic behavior is rewarded? Share your experiences with us. Subscribe to The HR Digest so you can stay up-to-date with the latest trends and changes revolutionizing the workplace.
