Ten percent of the workforce is job addicted

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At the same time, those affected have more health problems than other workers, according to a study published Tuesday by the Hans Böckler Foundation by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education (BIBB) and the Technical University of Braunschweig. The union-affiliated foundation financed the investigation.

Bad conscience and withdrawal symptoms

Researchers classify people as work addicts when two phenomena come together: the person involved works long and fast and completes different tasks at the same time. This is called overwork.

The other factor is the “impulse”: Those affected work hard even if it’s not fun, they feel guilty when they take time off, and they can’t relax after work. Those affected will have withdrawal symptoms during their time without gainful employment, the researchers explained.

health outcomes

According to research, in a survey of 8,000 good employees in 2017 and 2018, 9.8 percent showed addictive work behavior. Of these, 28 percent rated their overall health as less good or worse. Only 14 percent of other respondents did so.

“Empirical results clearly show that addictive work in Germany is associated with worse health,” the study says. “At the same time, the results show that dependent workers pay less attention to the medical treatment of their symptoms and their recovery.” Forty-five percent of workaholics said they had not gotten sick for a single day in the past year. For other employees, it was just 36 percent.

High risk of burnout

Experts cite increased risks of burnout or depressed mood as possible long-term consequences of addictive work. Such psychological suffering can lead to prolonged absence from work.

The study’s authors emphasize that the link between addictive work and health is “not just an individual problem” — it “can also have a negative impact on society.” For companies, prolonged staffing is particularly expensive and can lead to long-term production declines if staffing is lacking.

“Especially against the background of a shortage of skilled workers, the problem of preventing longer-term incapacity for work is of paramount importance,” says the study. “Prevention of addictive work should therefore play a more important role in the future. This includes, among other things, raising awareness of the issue and promoting active health protection in companies.”

(AFP)

Source : Blick