All-4-HR Blog Spot: Happy JULY 5TH is Coming!

Believe it or not there is a holiday that signifies Workaholics. July 5^th is National Workaholics Day! While some employers may believe workaholics are good for the company, researchers disagree. We all know someone who is the first IN and last one OUT. While co-workers, families and yes bosses are unplugged and enjoying the holiday(s) or much deserved time off, there is always that one or two at the office, at home sitting at the dining room table, locked in their home office, working!

There was a time when working long hours/ more hours was encouraged well – because it emphasized bigger paychecks along with big promotions. Think about it though! It’s Talk-About-It Thursday at All-4-HR & Business Solutions! Are Workaholics truly happier because of higher paychecks and promotions? I’d like to hear from some workaholics “anonymously” of course!

Signs You are a Workaholic are below?

The Workaholics Anonymous website http://bit.ly/1KskG9m has a 20-question self-assessment that includes these queries:

· Do you take work with you to bed, on weekends or on vacation?

· Is work the activity you do best and talk about the most?

· Do you think it’s OK to work long hours if you love what you do?

· Do you get impatient with people who have priorities outside of work?

· Do you do things energetically and competitively, including play?

· Have long hours hurt your relationships?

· Do you work or read during meals?

· Do you think about work while driving or falling asleep or when others are talking?

It is my personal belief that longer hours and lack of down time with family, friends and alone yield less than desirous results. Wikipedia defines Workaholic as a person who works compulsively. While the term generally implies that the person enjoys their work, it can also imply that they simply feel compelled to do it. There is no generally accepted medical definition of such a condition, although some forms of stress, impulse control disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder can be work-related.

Workaholism is often confused with working hard, but it is not the same!

Researchers found that people work hard for four reasons:

1. Because they want the financial rewards of hard work. Douglas and Morris call these people "material goal seekers."

2. Because they find little enjoyment from leisure activities. They can be called "low leisure" hard workers.

3. Because they love the perks they get at work, such as friendships, an easy commute, great working conditions, a good health plan, etc. They are "perkaholics" rather than workaholics.

4. Because they want to work just for work’s sake. These people are the true workaholics. The Truth About Workaholics http://bit.ly/1FQ3meM.

Employers should not encourage workaholism! There has to be work/life balance encouraged throughout the organization at all times. Workaholism must be discouraged as it negatively impacts the workaholic, along with the morale of other employees. Researchers further say employers send mixed messages as workaholics are rewarded with bigger paychecks and promotions. On the other hand employers are pushing work/life balance by saying employees must take their vacation time and staying home to recuperate, by NO MEANS coming to work and getting other co-workers sick. But wait again, workaholics are rewarded with fatter paychecks and big promotions. Mixed messages indeed!

Workaholics can and will have a negative impact on co-workers making them feel guilty and compelled to work longer hours and underachieving or causing competition. These attitudes can cause workplace fatigue and stress.

It is important that managers keep an eye for these situations as they can cause health problems for workaholics resulting in burnouts, workplace accidents and injuries. Workaholism can also cause strife and animosity among co-workers. Managers should be aware of such situations where employees may be overworked or stressed.

Not to make light of July 5^th, let me say workaholism is a very serious matter. Workaholisn can very easily take on a serious connotation as we have all known of and/or heard of workplace violence, which can be a result of being overworked. Workaholism not only affects the workplace, it has a lasting impact on family and home life for a lot of families.

As employers and employees, on this July 5^th, let’s remember the importance of work/life balance and the importance of happy and healthy employees!

Until next time.

April D. Halliburton, BSBA, MBA

HR Strategist/Problemsolver/Visionary