Workaholism (Excessive Working) - Research Paper Example

?The Problem of Workaholism Workaholism is an addiction that has afflicted millions of people across the globe. This problem is made seriousby the fact that it is oftentimes unrecognized by the individuals affected by it. The symptoms are usually mistaken to be that of other work-related issues such as stress. Because of this, most of those who are suffering from workaholism have not really taken concrete steps to resolve the issue. Instead, they continue to hold on to the habit under the impression that it is just normal. Methods of diagnosis have been introduced so that this serious concern is addressed to avoid the physical, emotional, psychological, and social repercussions. Introduction Workaholism is a term that never existed in the 19th century and even in early part of the 20th century. The term itself is apparently a combination of two terms that connote both the positive and negative. The prefix ‘work’ has always been considered as positive for it represents the identity of the individual and his capability to survive. The remaining two syllables, however, is obviously derived from ‘alcoholism,’ a negative term that refers to addiction. Workaholism therefore is an addiction to work. According to Peter Mudrack, “a workaholic obviously works ‘too much’ and is consumed with work to the exclusion of other activities” (2006, p. 108). While work may be a generally positive aspect, taking to an extreme level which results in the neglect of other normal human activities can become detrimental to the individual. However, workaholism is not imposed by a force external to the individual. Instead, it is freely acquired and practiced by an individual. Here lies the problem since people may not even recognize that they are already workaholics. They may just tend to believe that they are just being more diligent and hardworking than others; that they are just spending more time and efforts on their respective endeavors that what is normally demanded by their superiors. With such perspective, it naturally becomes impossible for them to realize that they are harming themselves physically and emotionally and destroying their social lives in the process. Gravity of the Problem It is interesting to note that the problem of workaholism is not worse in countries that are ruled by authoritarian regimes or where the culture itself puts heavy emphasis on work while setting aside all other normal and necessary human activities. The issue is actually worse in countries with strong industrial and prosperous economies. One clear indicator is how people in a particular country generally treat the holidays provided to them by law or by their companies. In Japan, only 33 percent of the workforce actually take advantage of the holidays, while 57 percent and 47 percent the same in the United States and Australia respectively (Business Insider). These data show the magnitude of the problem worldwide. What makes it even worse is that majority of the people in these countries do not see overwork as a problem. The Japanese take pride in it, recognizing it as part of their culture. Americans, on the other hand, consider it as part of the requirements to realize the American Dream, while envying the Japanese for their attitude towards work. The adverse effects of workaholism to the individual are gradual. This is the reason why it may be difficult for one ascertain whether he is already a workaholic or not. The psychological effects are usually depression, stress, short-temperedness or irritability. The ability to come up with wise judgments can be greatly reduced. The physical effects are often attributed to mere job-related stress but these could actually be symptoms of workaholism, such as hypertension, over-fatigue, palpitation, and general weakening of the immune systems. All these are definitely harmful to the individual. However, another very devastating effect of workaholism is on the social life of the person who suffers from it. When one focuses his attention only to work, he would naturally ignore the people who are close to him, from family to friends. Due to the fact that workaholism is hardly considered an issue by a number of people, efforts to understand it and develop remedies have not been serious and many. It has even been labeled as the “best-dressed addiction” (Robinson & Flowers, 2003, p. 380). Since the problem, however, is psychological in nature, the solution should target the mindset of the workaholic. This requires letting the workaholic realize first that he is indeed suffering such problem and making him sense the harm that it is doing to himself and his immediate circle of friends and family. Summary Workaholism is a problem that arose only in recent history, particularly in the latter part of the 20th century. It is basically an addiction to work, a habit that may be inherently good but when stretched to the extreme would render more harm to the individual. The major problem with this kind of addiction is that it is very hard to recognize because it starts out as a productive activity. Therefore, people would simply think that this is a normal attitude towards work that is generally positive. The magnitude of the problem of workaholism can be seen in the fact that millions of individuals are actually affected by it. Its prevalence is most noticeable in countries with the advanced economies such as Japan and the U.S. One way of determining its magnitude is by determining the number of individuals who intentionally forego of the vacation privileges provided to them by law or by their employers. Japan, particularly, has majority of its workforce not availing of the vacations allotted to them. Workaholism takes its toll on the emotional, physical, psychological, and social aspects of the individual. This is the reason why it needs to be addressed as promptly as possible. However, the most effective solutions for this problem may still need to be studied further. The major obstacle to a more serious and scientific approaches to the issue are the prevailing ignorance and apathy towards it by many people. Conclusion Workaholism is a problem that may have been triggered by external influences or the environment in one’s workplace. However, it must be emphasized that it is the individual who actually allows this to develop and become a serious problem. Apparently, the decisive factor here is the workaholic himself. Since this is an addiction, albeit to something that is otherwise recognized as positive if in moderation, the individual’s willingness to overcome it is the essential step towards a solution. However, the first step to solving the problem may just be the most difficult. This is when the individual must admit that he is a workaholic and that he has turned his back on other concerns are just as important as work. Unless this stage is achieved, the individual would never be able to solve the problem. Nevertheless, external conditions that would help the individual overcome workaholism are also necessary. These may come from friends and family, the very people who would also benefit the most from the results. More scientific studies regarding the problem are still needed though in order to understand more profoundly the causes and characteristics of the problem. It is through these also that accurate solutions are determined, such as those very activities and attitudes that external support mechanisms can apply to help the concerned workaholic. References Business Insider. (n.d.) The 14 Most Workaholic Countries in the World. Retrieved 6 September 2011. . Mudrack, (2006). Understanding Workaholism: The Case for Behavioral Tencencies. In R. Burke (Ed.), Research Companion to Working Time and Work Addiction. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. Robinson, B. and Flowers, C. (2004). Understanding and Diagnosing Workaholism. In R. Coombs (Ed.), Handbook of Addictive Disorders: A Practical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Read More