The social fallout of working alongside an office workaholic
When employees work alongside a workaholic, they often feel pressured to match those long hours. A new study reveals that this performance pressure drives coworkers to work harder, but it also increases gossip and badmouthing in the office.
A recent study published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior explores the social consequences of having a workaholic coworker in the office. The research, conducted by Jun Gu of Macquarie University and Zhuolin She of Renmin University of China, examined how the presence of an overly dedicated colleague can lead to increased pressure and negative attitudes among their peers.
The study found that when a coworker consistently logs long hours and prioritizes work over personal time, it creates a sense of heightened performance expectations for their colleagues. Employees may feel compelled to work harder in order to match the perceived intensity of their workaholic colleague. However, the perceived motives behind the coworker's dedication appeared to play a crucial role in determining the social impact.
If the workaholic colleague's long hours were seen as driven by personal ambition, such as seeking a promotion or bonus, it intensified the performance pressure experienced by their peers. This heightened pressure translated into increased work effort and more instances of badmouthing the workaholic in question. In contrast, when the coworker's dedication was perceived as motivated by a desire to help the entire team succeed, the negative social effects were less pronounced.
To investigate these dynamics, the researchers conducted a series of controlled experiments involving participants from financial services and business backgrounds. Across four studies with a total of 570 individuals, the findings consistently demonstrated that a workaholic colleague's high level of dedication could generate significant performance pressure and lead to increased work effort and negative attitudes towards the coworker.
The results suggest that the social fallout of working alongside a workaholic extends beyond the individual experiencing burnout or health issues. Instead, it affects the entire team dynamic, fostering increased pressure, reduced trust, and even interpersonal conflicts. The study highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing the social implications of extreme work habits to maintain a healthy work environment and prevent potential workplace tensions.
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