Workaholism on the Rise

See also: Sick Days Are a LuxuryAre you a workaholic? Some people scoff at the whole concept, or don’t realize that they exhibit behaviors associated with an obsessive focus on work. Yet being a workaholic can lead to stress, damaged personal relationships, and even physical illness. A survey from CareerBuilder shows that many professionals are experiencing the danger signs of workaholism. For starters, the 40-hour work week is a myth for the majority of employees. Other indicators include constantly taking the job home, talking or thinking all the time about business, and literally dreaming about work at night. All of this is compounded by 24/7 access to business-related information. “With increased demands at the office and greater accessibility through mobile devices, the workday literally never ends for some workers,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. “While a strong work ethic is valued, a lack of balance with your personal life can ultimately work against you in the long run. Take inventory of your personal time and see where you need to make adjustments in 2011.” More than 3,065 took part in the survey.