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Do Workaholics Really Make Good Employees?

Everyone admires “go-getters” who do whatever it takes to get the job done.  In small- to medium-sized business, especially, hard-working employees who regularly log 50+ hours per week can be  indispensable assets.

But are workaholics really great employees, or can they actually be detrimental to your business?

It depends.  When an employee “burns the midnight oil” to help launch a new product or complete a special project, a short-term burst of overtime can benefit your organization tremendously.

On the other hand, when an employee continually takes on more and more work, the long-term effects can be disastrous.  At some point, a workaholic like this will hit a breaking point.  He’ll burn out and may even quit his job – taking his knowledge with him and leaving you with the expense and inconvenience of finding his replacement.

If you have workaholics on staff, share this post with them and encourage them to achieve a healthier work/life balance.  Here’s why:

  • Rested workers are smarter, safer workers.  Fatigue, poor health and stress are hallmarks of workaholism.  All of these lead to an increase in worker’s compensation and health insurance costs.  Do what you can to ensure employees get the time away from work they need to rest.  Enforce necessary breaks and limit overtime to keep your employees healthier and safer.
  • Balanced employees are more productive and accurate.  Research indicates that those who take vacation and occasional time off are more successful.  Time away from work renews their drive, boosts productivity and helps them avoid costly mistakes that overworked employees are prone to make.
  • Employees who leave (occasionally) are more likely to stay.  While this sounds contradictory, encouraging staff to take their vacation time can actually reduce turnover.  To boot, the change in routine and surroundings can help employees gain fresh perspectives on their work and spark new ideas.
  • Happy employees create a better culture.  Workaholics are generally cranky because they’re, well, overworked.  Chronically ill-tempered employees are more likely to stir up office conflicts, harbor resentment or even berate co-workers and superiors.  Create a better corporate culture by nipping counterproductive behaviors like these in the bud.  Make it clear that working long hours and skipping vacations are not the way to get ahead in your organization.

When your staff needs time off, Wood Personnel is ready to help.  Contact us today to plan for upcoming staff absences.  We can provide exceptionally talented temporary employees to handle your core staff’s workload while they are away – and keep your business humming.

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