Larsen & Toubro Chairman SN Subrahmanyan has sparked a firestorm of controversy in a now-viral video by implying that workers should put in 90 hours a week, including Sundays. Subrahmanyan bemoaned the inability to require employees to work seven days a week during an employee encounter, playfully posing the question, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Come on get to the office and start working. If I can make you work on Sundays, I’ll be happier. Because I work on Sundays also,” he said. His statement, laced with boomer notions of gender roles and dismissive attitudes toward personal life, has drawn well-earned widespread criticism. It is sexist and tone-deaf. Important questions regarding labour regulations, generational views on workplace culture, and the effects of such demands on mental health and work-life balance are raised by these remarks. Is the drive for unrelenting productivity ethical or sustainable as businesses look to reward shareholders and stay competitive globally? Would you work seven days a week? It might sound crazy to some, but for a workaholic, it could be the ultimate fantasy.
Work Addiction: The most accepted addiction
The term "workaholism" was first used by Dr. Wayne Oates in the 1970s to describe "the compulsion or uncontrollable need to work incessantly." Compared to dedicated workers, workaholics prioritise their employment over their relationships, health, and free time. A 2019 Workfront survey found that 61% of employees work over their regular hours, and 35% of employees feel pressured to reply to emails on the weekends. Despite being almost as dangerous as other addictions, work addiction is nonetheless the most praised and tolerated kind. When someone has a work addiction, they may work obsessively to ignore other parts of their lives, such as personal difficulties or difficult mental health issues. Like other addictions, the individual may continue to engage in the behaviour without realising the harm it is inflicting.
Recognizing the Signs of Workaholism
1. 5-to-9 after 9-to-5
Your typical 5-to-9 after 9-to-5 is for winding down and relaxing but that might not be the case for a workaholic. It is quite difficult for workaholics to disconnect from their work, even on weekends, holidays, or personal time. When they're not working, they frequently experience anxiety or guilt, which makes them continuously check their emails, take calls, or perform other work-related duties. Continuous job involvement raises the risk of burnout by preventing rest and recuperation. Signs to watch out for:
- bringing work home often even when there aren't any pressing deadlines
- being agitated or restless when not at work
- disregarding leisure pursuits or personal interests
2. Strained Relationships
Workaholics frequently put their jobs before their relationships, ignoring social contacts and family gatherings.Emotional support and general happiness depend on having strong personal relationships. Loneliness, animosity from loved ones, and even the dissolution of marriages or friendships can result from neglecting connections. Warning Signs:
- missing family or social commitments on a regular basis
- getting grievances about being "absent" or "preoccupied" from family members
- feeling cut off from friends or family
3. Perfectionism and Over-Commitment
"If I don't do it, no one else will do it right" is frequently the motto of a workaholic. They take on excessive responsibilities, micromanage projects, and have irrational expectations for both themselves and other people as a result of their perfectionist attitude. Since perfection is unachievable, perfectionism and overcommitment can result in ongoing tension and discontent. Tension with teammates or coworkers may also result from this behaviour. Signs to watch out for:
- task delegation is difficult
- continuously editing or reworking work to satisfy high standards that one has set for oneself
- feeling unsatisfied with achievements, regardless of their importance
4. Declining Productivity and Creativity
Ironically, over time, workaholism sometimes results in decreased productivity. Workaholics become less creative, less focused, and more prone to mistakes as a result of their relentless grind, which drains their mental and physical resources. Overworking reduces productivity and the capacity to generate high-caliber work. Additionally, it produces a vicious loop in which workaholics feel pressured to put in more effort as production drops, thereby exacerbating the issueWarning Signs: Signs to watch out for:
- having trouble focussing or making judgements
- putting in a lot of time on easy things because you're tired or distracted
- feeling trapped in a cycle of repetition and inefficiency
5. Health Problems from Overworking
In order to fulfil deadlines or accomplish goals, workaholics frequently prioritise their work over their health, disregarding signs of exhaustion, stress, or disease. This carelessness might eventually result in major issues with one's physical and emotional well-being. Chronic stress and bad health behaviours can cause heart disease, depression, sleeplessness, and high blood pressure. Ignoring health problems makes the vicious cycle of job addiction worse. Signs to watch out for:
- eating at odd times or skipping meals are warning signs
- suffering from recurrent headaches, tense muscles, or digestive issues
- avoiding health examinations or disregarding medical advice
The Link Between Workaholism and Mental Health
Effects of Workaholism on Mental Health:
- Chronic Stress: Persistent performance pressure can cause mental and physical tiredness, which can exacerbate stress-related illnesses. This loop is maintained by workaholics who frequently disregard their desire for relaxation.
- Depression and anxiety: Feelings of pessimism and inadequacy might be intensified by the failure to attain work-life balance. Workaholics may have low self-esteem and identify too strongly with their accomplishments in the workplace.
- Burnout: Prolonged overwork leads to this condition of intense exhaustion and disengagement. Emotional weariness, decreased productivity, and a lowered sense of achievement are among the symptoms.
- Workaholics are susceptible to identity crises when confronted with obstacles or changes in their work life since they frequently get their whole sense of value from their careers.
Research indicates that workaholics are more likely to experience psychiatric symptoms. In a study involving 16,426 working adults, approximately 8.3% were classified as workaholics. Among these individuals, there was a significant correlation with mental health disorders:
- ADHD: 32.7% of workaholics met the criteria for ADHD, compared to 12.7% of non-workaholics.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): 25.6% versus 8.7%.
- Anxiety: 33.8% versus 11.9%.
- Depression: 8.9% versus 2.6%.’
People who worked more hours were more likely to experience a decrease in their mental health, according to an Australian cohort research . In particular, there was a 48% higher chance of mental health decrease for those who worked 49–59 hours per week and a 53% higher chance for those who worked more than 60 hours per week. Overworking is not a solution to mental distress or psychological insecurity; instead, it frequently covers and exacerbates these issues. Addressing the underlying issues via therapy or self-reflection is critical to breaking away from the cycle of job addiction. Start here with Healo!
Why does workaholism persist?
Perfectionism and a strong need for external validation are problems that many workaholics face. They create a vicious cycle of overwork and self-doubt by holding themselves to unreasonably high standards and equating their value with their accomplishments. Overworking is frequently glorified in business cultures and societal standards. The hustle culture mentality obscures the negative consequences of job addiction by framing unrelenting effort as achievement, as the film discusses. An underlying fear of failure is what motivates many workaholics to continuously demonstrate their abilities. This way of thinking not only encourages overworking but also raises the possibility of burnout. According to some psychologists, workaholism is a personality trait that certain people are more likely to exhibit than others. High scores on well-known characteristics including neuroticism, conscientiousness, narcissism, and perfectionism have been linked to workaholism, according to research.
Strategies to overcome workaholism
- Establish Boundaries: Save time for hobbies and family, and refrain from sending business emails after hours.
- Practice Mindfulness: To increase attention and lower stress, try yoga or meditation.
- Seek Professional Assistance: The underlying reasons of workaholism can be addressed by treatment, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
- Make self-care a priority by making sure you get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet, and exercise frequently.
- Practice Delegation: Develop the ability to entrust duties and obligations to others. Delegating empowers your team members while simultaneously lessening your workload.
- Promote a Balanced Work Culture: By discouraging overworking and recognising accomplishments outside of work, employers may promote a balanced work culture.
- Reframe Success: Success should be seen from a holistic perspective, placing equal value on relationships and personal well-being as on professional accomplishments.
