Business Risk Workaholism!

"Workaholics themselves gave their statements!" pronounced scientist and human resources expert Dr Ulrike Meissner. Work addicts have commented on the operational consequences of addiction to their company in an international study for the first time in German-speaking countries. Unlike many other studies, workaholism is not viewed from a psychological or a health perspective, but from a business and economics perspective. "Now, the companies are in charge!"

Following her latest publication, the New Zealand living economist is setting another milestone in work addiction research with her latest study. "Now it's getting harder and harder to dismiss the workaholic phenomenon as a psychological 'spinning' or 'fashion theme'. Along with the dynamic change in the world of work, the impact of workaholism on companies is getting closer, "says the HR expert.

The increasing social perception of work addiction is a positive development of the last ten years. However, it still does not play a role in the entrepreneurial everyday life. Workaholism as a serious problem for companies is largely hidden consistently. The fact that operational conditions and executives also play a role does not attract attention in operational practice or in health management for employees. Of course, this also has a significant negative impact on the lack of help for the affected persons themselves.

Until today, the work addiction research has its emphasis on psychological aspects. But now, this brand-new study has a business focus. Workaholics show the influence of their addiction on themselves and on their entire business environment.

"Businesses need to realise that there are workaholics in their company with high probability and that they are already carry a significant economic and human resources risk. The current study shows that academically educated employees tend to be a higher risk but are not necessarily attracted by increased absences. This makes it difficult to identify them. Therefore, businesses must focus more on typical work-addicted behaviours. A special challenge for the human resources departments and the company management!", pointed the scientist.

It also becomes clear that executives play a key role in creating or promoting workaholism! They shape the operational framework significantly and influence the employees directly through their leadership. Significant economic damages occur months or even years in advance, until the addiction cannot be denied anymore because of a 'total failure' (such as burn-out). Even in the initial stage of the addiction, delays in work processes occur, tasks remain unfinished, time delays increase, supervision on colleagues get beyond control, mistakes and wrong decisions accumulate.

Meissner's conclusion: "Ultimately, not only the workaholics themselves but also the companies have to pay a high price. This research shows, that denying workaholism as the cause of operational problems is a gross negligence. The existence of companies can be jeopardised and therefore it requires active management actions. Economic interests of companies and help for sick persons are no longer mutually exclusive. The entrepreneurial intent must be to recognise the issue of workaholism as a disease, to avert operational damage from the company and to address the problems of workaholism actively. "

The book “Business Risk Workaholism - Management Challenges and Action Guidelines for Professional Practice” is published by the renowned Peter Lang International Academic Publishers -ISBN: 978-3-631-76634-7

Contact: Dr. Ulrike Emma Meissner: contact@um-ehr.com | www.um-ehr.com

Ulrike Emma Meissner worked in Germany many years as senior HR manager in an international environment and most recently held the professorship for "Human Resources management" at the University of Applied Sciences Ostwestfalen-Lippe, Germany. Today she is an international Human Resources Lecturer, Author & Consultant active in Europe and New Zealand.

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