A workaholic might be defined as a person obsessively addicted to work, Or a person who feels guilty for taking time off of work or time to themselves. Workaholics tend to live both extremes of life: extreme success and job satisfaction and yet severe exhaustion and frustration. A new Florida University study is looking into ways to positively help these types of employees stay healthy.
In a study of 400 employees working in a professional or administrative occupation nearly 60% of those employees identified themselves to be workaholics. And of this 60% they each agreed that being a workaholic had many negative and positive effects on their careers. These workers said that while they gave excessive effort compared to co-workers they also experienced more tension and were more likely to view co-workers as feeling entitled.
Workaholics provide extremely high levels of job effectiveness, but only when they are at an optimal point in their life along with having good health. But unfortunately when in extra low or high ranges companies and employees could suffer.
And though workaholics do very well at work, they cannot feel alone. If a workaholic feels alone then they can truly begin to struggle all the way around their lives. It is essential that resources, rest, and social support at work occur regularly.
Workaholics who said they had access to resources reported a:
• 40 percent higher rate of job satisfaction
• 33 percent lower rate of burnout
• 30 percent higher rate of perceived job importance
• 30 percent lower rate of exclusion from others
• 25 percent higher rate of career fulfillment
• 20 percent lower rate of work frustration.
And though there can be negative results in having workaholics as employees it is necessary to have workers that contribute long hours and value the success of the company they work for. Workaholism will continue for many generations to come, it is up to researchers to determine a positive way of handling the lifestyle.
There are needs, such as both physical and social resources that workaholics need to thrive. The goal of most workaholics is to contribute to the success of the company, achieve success on a personal level and compare their work to the bottom line to see how it is affected. Managers of workaholics also need to have realistic expectations and limits. Since workaholics are the most productive employees, managers often suffocate them in important tasks; which in the end only runs these workers that are so talented into the ground. It is important to meet the needs of workaholics and give them a break when it’s needed. Try to keep these top-notch employees from getting burnt out. The longer they are with your company, the more likely your company is to have a higher success rate.