The Hidden Dangers of Workaholism: Impact on Employees and Business Success

In the modern world, workaholism is traditionally viewed as a sign of dedication to work and high professional activity. However, a recent international study challenges this popular view, demonstrating that excessive self-dedication by employees can lead to devastating consequences for both companies and society as a whole.

Workaholism: The Myth of High Productivity or a Hidden Threat?

Recent studies are increasingly debunking the long-held belief that more working hours automatically lead to improved business performance. Contrary to expectations, employees who are fully immersed in their work may begin to neglect important ethical standards and collective interests. This trend was identified by an international group of scientists, including experts from Leipzig University (Germany), Aston University and the University of Glasgow (United Kingdom), the University of Rome 'La Sapienza', the National Institute for Insurance against Workplace Accidents (Italy), and McMaster University (Canada).

How the Study Revealed the Negative Impact of Workaholism

The results, published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, are based on two large-scale surveys conducted among workers in Germany and Italy over three periods of time. The study involved 1,046 respondents from Germany and 505 from Italy. The main findings of the study can be summarized as follows:

• Rational Silence: Workaholics often prefer to ignore questions related to ethical standards, justifying their silence by focusing on task completion. This behavior creates a "chain reaction" of silence, where problems that could negatively affect the entire team’s work go undiscussed.
• Deviation from Moral Norms: Employees who are overly focused on personal achievements often sacrifice collective interests and moral principles. This can lead to the perpetuation of unethical practices, ultimately damaging both the company's reputation and societal norms.
• Worsening Organizational Stability: Continuous disregard for ethical considerations not only leads to emotional burnout but also to systemic violations in corporate culture. This approach negatively impacts long-term business effectiveness.

Corporate Culture: From Long Working Hours to Ethical Leadership

The study’s results emphasize the need to reconsider the traditional view of workaholism as a sign of high efficiency. Instead of encouraging additional working hours, leaders should create an environment where a balance between professional activity and personal life is valued, and where openness for discussing ethical issues is promoted.

Key Recommendations for Business:

• Building a Healthy Corporate Culture: It is necessary to move away from the model where long working hours are associated with dedication to work. It is important to cultivate values focused on ethical behavior and collective well-being.
• Supporting Hybrid Work Models: Flexibility in choosing the place and time of work helps reduce psychological pressure on employees and promotes their overall well-being, which positively affects the quality of work.
• Focusing on Personal Well-being: Companies should care for the physical and emotional state of their employees, creating conditions for recovery and preventing emotional burnout.

Conclusion: Why Excessive Passion for Work Can Be Destructive

The latest research clearly shows that workaholism is not only a risk to employees' health but also a potentially destructive force in the corporate environment. The refusal to discuss ethical issues and the tendency to justify silence in favor of completing work tasks create a breeding ground for internal problems that can negatively affect the reputation and stability of a business. To ensure long-term success and competitiveness, companies need to rethink traditional views of the work process. Creating conditions in which employees can maintain a balance between work and personal life, while actively discussing emerging issues, will help prevent the negative consequences of workaholism and foster the organization’s development in harmony with modern standards of ethics and sustainability.