An Epidemic of Overwork: The Troubling Rise of Workaholism
Across professions, some take their work to an extreme. From accountants who toil endlessly at spreadsheets to basketball players who shoot free throws until exhaustion, a significant portion of the workforce - around 15% - has become consumed by their jobs. This phenomenon, known as workaholism, has far-reaching consequences.
Workaholism is not simply a strong work ethic or a temporary period of intense effort. Rather, it involves an inner compulsion to work, persistent thoughts about work, negative feelings when not working, and working beyond what is reasonably expected. This addiction to work can develop in people from all backgrounds - whether they grew up in poverty or wealth. Certain personality types, like perfectionists and those with type A tendencies, are particularly prone to workaholism.
The workplaces that foster this addiction are often those that encourage competition and long hours. Managers and the self-employed are especially at risk. The rise of remote work during the pandemic has likely exacerbated the problem, blurring the lines between work and home life.
Despite their tireless efforts, workaholics do not necessarily perform better than their peers. In fact, research shows no correlation between workaholism and job performance. The exhaustion and mistakes that result from overwork can even be detrimental to the organization, clients, and the workaholics themselves. Workaholism has been linked to life dissatisfaction, health issues, and unhealthy lifestyles.
Curing workaholism is challenging, as the addiction can be deeply ingrained. However, some strategies may help, such as practicing mindfulness, scheduling downtime, and workplaces implementing policies that encourage work-life balance. Ultimately, the onus is on the workaholic to recognize the problem and make the difficult choice to scale back. But with the powerful pull of work, many may be unwilling to do so.