Search
Close this search box.

Overworking makes you worse at your job

Working overtime reduces the amount of time an employee has available to take rest and recover, while work intensity reduces opportunities for recovery during the working day.

Many employees fear losing their jobs as a result of the pandemic and often turn to overworking to avoid redundancy. However according to Professor Argyro Avgoustaki from ESCP Business School, this has a negative impact on wellbeing and may make people less productive.

Well-being is defined as an individual’s state of mental, physical and general health. There are many factors that may negatively affect employee well-being, and managers need to be aware of these.

Individuals who work extensively or intensively experience negative well-being outcomes such as stress, fatigue, burnout, exhaustion, illness, and reduced satisfaction” says Avgoustaki.

Working overtime reduces the amount of time an employee has available to take rest and recover, while work intensity reduces opportunities for recovery during the working day.

Lack of recovery accumulates over time and ultimately decreases an employee’s ability to perform at adequate levels and deliver quality work. Tired employees are less alert and more prone to making mistakes” says Avgoustaki.

Yet despite the detrimental effects of overworking, people keep doing it. Employees often work excessively in order to have better chances at career advancement, gain social recognition and praise, and avoid losing their job.

To prevent this, managers need to lead by example. They should encourage environments in which excessive work is not a norm but only used by exception in very busy periods.

“Managers need to provide some discretion over how and when work should be done as well as creating meaningful work experiences will help employee well-being. This way, at times when employees have to work harder, their well-being, and in turn productivity, will be better preserved” says Avgoustaki

If employees need to work constantly under pressure then their well-being will deteriorate, and an unhappy employee is a less productive employee. Essentially if we can understand employee well-being, we will also understand how employees can become more productive.

    Read more

    Latest News

    Read More

    Expert tips for spring cleaning CV and career

    29 March 2024

    Newsletter

    Receive the latest HR news and strategic content

    Please note, as per the GDPR Legislation, we need to ensure you are ‘Opted In’ to receive updates from ‘theHRDIRECTOR’. We will NEVER sell, rent, share or give away your data to third parties. We only use it to send information about our products and updates within the HR space To see our Privacy Policy – click here

    Latest HR Jobs

    University of Warwick – WMGSalary: £23,144 to £25,138 per annum

    The Open University – People ServicesSalary: £57,696 to £64,914 + up to £8,000 per annum MRP supplement*

    Cardiff UniversitySalary: Competitive

    University of Oxford – Oxford Department of International DevelopmentSalary: £28,759 to £33,966 (Grade 5)

    Read the latest digital issue of theHRDIRECTOR for FREE

    Read the latest digital issue of theHRDIRECTOR for FREE