Research shows the average CEO works 62.5<\/a> hours a week – around 21.3 hours above the global baseline<\/a> of 41.2 hours. In the UK, 54%<\/a> of employees check work emails on holiday and 6% admit to even checking them at a funeral. US counterparts are no better off, with 55%<\/a> viewing work emails after 11pm.<\/p>\n The growth of technology combined with the idea that we need to work harder to achieve more is a popular concept in the modern workplace. While there\u2019s no denying the benefits and triumphs that come from committed bursts of hard work, unwavering dedication can tip the balance, turning a hard-worker into a workaholic.<\/p>\n With smartphones, computers and apps at our fingertips, we\u2019re able to maintain a constant connection to our work. In theory, these tools should make our workdays shorter and more efficient, but constant distractions and the inability to disconnect can lead to longer work hours and less to show for it.<\/p>\n Although work addiction is becoming more widely discussed, there are very few reliable statistics on what percentage of the population suffers from it worldwide. Estimates in America are as high as 25%. In Norway, an official study suggests only 8.3%<\/a> of people are addicted to work, and criteria has been developed to analyse symptoms.<\/p>\n According to the Bergen Work Addiction Scale<\/a>, replying \u2018often\u2019 or \u2018always\u2019 to at least four of the following seven criteria may indicate a work addiction:<\/p>\n Impact on Employees: <\/strong>Work-obsessed CEO\u2019s run the risk of creating a company culture in which presenteeism reigns. As opposed to being absent from work, presenteeism leads to employees having lower productivity while at work. They\u2019re also likely to feel judged according to how many hours they sit at their desks rather than the quality of their output. This can lead to burnout, unhappiness and increased health issues, which end up impacting both company and employee negatively in the long run.<\/p>\n Interestingly, New York<\/a> and France<\/a> are doing their part by helping to combat invasive workplace emails from dipping into employee personal time, introducing bills that give private workers the right to ignore emails outside of working hours. The Right to Disconnect Bill encourages employees to unplug after work and has been the topic of much discussion around worker\u2019s rights.<\/p>\n Impact on Business Growth: <\/strong>CEO\u2019s who work too hard may have trouble delegating effectively or even end up micromanaging teams, which can lead to a bottleneck in the company. It also sends the message to employees that they\u2019re not trusted or talented enough to meet expectations, which can cause tension and unhappiness.<\/p>\n In a Harvard Business Review study of 27 CEO\u2019s over three months, time management<\/a> proved the greatest challenge for most, while email usage was the top interrupter of the day. Leaders in the same study spent 72% of their time in work meetings, with the average meeting length being one hour.<\/p>\n One of the biggest time wasters for employees is distraction at work, with 60%<\/a> saying meetings are a big distraction that impact productivity, ultimately leading to longer hours spent working.<\/p>\n While the dedication to put in extra hours is a valuable trait, it\u2019s important to manage a healthy balance in the long-term. One of the major differences between a hard worker and a workaholic is the problems that are caused as a result. Poor health, guilt when not working and increased stress levels are often consequences of work addiction. A few ways to combat it includes:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We Operate in Some of the World’s Top Cities:<\/span><\/p>\n London<\/a>, New York<\/a>, San Francisco<\/a>, Paris<\/a>, Singapore<\/a>, Hong Kong<\/a>, Technology makes it increasingly easy to push beyond the 9-5, but how can we tell the difference between committed working habits and work addiction? Always-On Research shows the average CEO works 62.5 hours a week – around 21.3 hours above the global baseline of 41.2 hours. In the UK, 54% of employees check work emails on holiday and 6% admit to even checking them at a funeral. US counterparts are no better off, with 55% viewing work emails after 11pm. The growth of technology combined with the idea that we need to work harder to achieve more is a popular concept in the modern workplace. While there\u2019s no denying the benefits and triumphs that come from committed bursts of hard work, unwavering dedication can tip the balance, turning a hard-worker into a workaholic. With smartphones, computers and apps at our fingertips, we\u2019re able to maintain a constant connection to our work. In theory, these tools should make our workdays shorter and more efficient, but constant distractions and the inability to disconnect can lead to longer work hours and less to show for it. Hard Working Vs Work Addicted Although work addiction is becoming more widely discussed, there are very few reliable statistics on what percentage of the population suffers from it worldwide. Estimates in America are as high as 25%. In Norway, an official study suggests only 8.3% of people are addicted to work, and criteria has been developed to analyse symptoms. According to the Bergen Work Addiction Scale, replying \u2018often\u2019 or \u2018always\u2019 to at least four of the following seven criteria may indicate a work addiction: You think of how you can free up more time to work. You spend much more time working than initially intended. You work in order to reduce feelings of guilt, anxiety, helplessness and depression. You have been told by others to cut down on work without listening to them. You become stressed if you are prohibited from working. You deprioritise hobbies, leisure activities, and exercise because of your work. You work so much that it has negatively influenced your health. Impact on Employees: Work-obsessed CEO\u2019s run the risk of creating a company culture in which presenteeism reigns. As opposed to being absent from work, presenteeism leads to employees having lower productivity while at work. They\u2019re also likely to feel judged according to how many hours they sit at their desks rather than the quality of their output. This can lead to burnout, unhappiness and increased health issues, which end up impacting both company and employee negatively in the long run. In the American Productivity Audit, a study of 29,000 working adults revealed presenteeism costs the US more than $150 billion a year. Things are no better in the UK, where studies show a sharp rise in presenteeism over the last few years from just 26% in 2010 to 86% in 2017, while another report shows a cost of \u00a381 billion each year in the UK. The Australian Productivity Commission estimates that absenteeism costs employers around $4.7 billion annually, while presenteeism costs way more at $6.1 billion. Interestingly, New York and France are doing their part by helping to combat invasive workplace emails from dipping into employee personal time, introducing bills that give private workers the right to ignore emails outside of working hours. The Right to Disconnect Bill encourages employees to unplug after work and has been the topic of much discussion around worker\u2019s rights. Impact on Business Growth: CEO\u2019s who work too hard may have trouble delegating effectively or even end up micromanaging teams, which can lead to a bottleneck in the company. It also sends the message to employees that they\u2019re not trusted or talented enough to meet expectations, which can cause tension and unhappiness. Biggest Time Wasters In a Harvard Business Review study of 27 CEO\u2019s over three months, time management proved the greatest challenge for most, while email usage was the top interrupter of the day. Leaders in the same study spent 72% of their time in work meetings, with the average meeting length being one hour. One of the biggest time wasters for employees is distraction at work, with 60% saying meetings are a big distraction that impact productivity, ultimately leading to longer hours spent working. Regain the Balance\u00a0 While the dedication to put in extra hours is a valuable trait, it\u2019s important to manage a healthy balance in the long-term. One of the major differences between a hard worker and a workaholic is the problems that are caused as a result. Poor health, guilt when not working and increased stress levels are often consequences of work addiction. A few ways to combat it includes: Trust your team: For a team to grow successfully, it\u2019s important to attract and retain talented employees, delegate effectively, and trust them to perform tasks without you. This will free up time for you to focus on strategy and growth. Reduce distraction: Shorten meetings, set dedicated working times where people can focus and create a culture of face to face interaction rather than using email. Around 40% of employees believe work distraction could also be drastically reduced with flexible and remote working options. Encourage work-life balance: Instill a 40-hour work week for everyone, CEO\u2019s included, with an emphasis on results rather than hours spent at a desk. Employees should be encouraged to take the vacation days they\u2019ve earned, with 67% of managers saying employees who take leave are more productive. Try a digital detox: Limit time spent online by consciously logging off of your work email and putting your phone away during weekends and on holiday. Set the tone in your organisation by normalising the fact that employees don\u2019t have to adopt an always-on attitude. There are several apps that can assist by locking your devices for a period of time. Allow mornings to set the precedent for the rest of the day: Whether taking time out to exercise, read, meditate or plan for the day, prioritise setting the tone for the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[214],"tags":[156,83,548,60],"class_list":["post-12627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","tag-burnout","tag-presenteeism","tag-work-addiction","tag-work-life-balance"],"yoast_head":"\nHard Working Vs Work Addicted<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Biggest Time Wasters<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Regain the Balance\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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