Are workaholics good or bad for your business? Some business owners might feel that there’s an obvious answer to this question. What boss wouldn’t want a team of dedicated, workaholics growing the business? Productivity would be up, absences down, what’s not for an employer to like about that situation?
Workaholics is usually a fairly light label given to people who can’t switch off or just love working. However, many companies are recognising that workaholics are actually a more serious problem
than previously thought and can be harmful to a healthy working environment.
It’s easy to confuse workaholics with hard workers. To see the differences you have to look a little closer.
Hard workers get stuff done, efficiently and accurately. Workaholics probably get a lot done too, but they keep themselves busy because they have to. A workaholic is someone who always feels burned out and stressed yet is unable to allow themselves to rest. A hard worker might be busy but also sees the value in rest.
They may go the extra mile but not at the expense of their health or their family commitments. Hard workers are less likely to have the same problems with work-related stress and health issues that are the tell-tale signs of a workaholic.
The co-founders of the HR company BambooHR, actually introduced an ‘anti-workaholic policy’ because they feel a good work life balance is important to the growth of a company and its employees. They found that people who were overworking were finding it harder to concentrate and taking much longer to complete tasks due to exhaustion.
Hard workers were getting more done because they were working more efficiently.
The problems with workaholics
Stress
Workaholics are people who simply live for their work, usually to escape other underlying problems. As workaholics always need to keep busy, this is bad news for stress levels, which then affect productivity. A workaholic may look like they’re getting a lot done but if their stress levels are particularly high, the chances are they’re not working to the best of their ability.
Bad health
Linked to the point above, stress can cause some people to get ill more frequently. Though a workaholic will try to avoid taking a sick day, sometimes it’s better if they do. They’ll get better quicker if they’re resting. You also might want to avoid someone bringing illnesses into the office, causing absence numbers to grow.
Tension at the office
Workaholics have a tendency to push their colleagues as hard as they push themselves. A workaholic may become quickly frustrated by people not working in the same way as they are. This can become a problem particularly if the workaholic is leading a team of people. It can cause a drop in morale. This can lead to some tension between your employees and a block to productivity in teams.
Can’t take breaks
Workaholics tend to ignore holiday allowances and focus entirely on work. Again, an employer might think of this as a good thing, but people need time off. People come back feeling refreshed, with new ideas and outlooks. These are crucial to a growing business.
Good points
While workaholics are seen as a negative part of a business, others argue that they are vital for growth and success, not just for themselves but also for the business itself.
Some people might not even realise they’re workaholics until someone points it out. Would you consider yourself a workaholic? Or any of your employees? It’s important to address before it gets out of hand.
How to deal with a workaholic problem
Talk to them honestly about their workload
The last thing a workaholic wants to hear is that they’re causing a problem for the business but if you speak to them honestly and openly about your concerns you could alert people who are not even aware that they’re workaholics. It’s hard to change your behaviour patterns when you don’t recognise them.
Access targets for your employees
Maybe you’ve set targets for your workers that are just too demanding. If several people are struggling, then this might be a sign that something needs to change on your part. While overworking might show dedication, it could also lead to the problems mentioned above.
Do more to promote a healthier work-life balance for everyone
Think about flexible working, shorter work days or company benefits to encourage a healthier work-life balance. Some companies have tried shorter workdays with great success, actually seeing a rise in productivity and happier, healthier workers.