Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 12, 1994 TAG: 9407070001
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: F2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRADENTON, Fla. - Can you spot the workaholic in a room full of
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Sandra Haymon surveyed 253 male students for her doctoral dissertation at Florida State University. What she found provides some insight into the emotional well-being of people who are married to their jobs.
Characteristics displayed by workaholics include anxiety, obsessive compulsiveness, mania, intolerance and self-doubt.
The good news is, most people who fit the description know they have a problem.
According to Haymon's study, 83.3 percent of those who classified themselves as workaholics fit the profile.
An even higher number, 88.8 percent, of those who said they were not workaholics fit the model of the nonworkaholic.
And, as the experts say, you have to know you have a problem before you can begin to solve it.
``Workaholics can't be treated if they're in denial,'' she said. ``Hopefully, the survey will help people confront the problem and get some help.''
Haymon found workaholics to have high levels of depression, anxiety and anger.
Having people like that around a workplace is bad not only for them, but for everybody else. Workaholics mistake activity for productivity, Haymon said, which lowers morale, hurts productivity and throws the workplace into chaos.
And work isn't the only place where workaholics have an adverse affect on the people around them. Workaholics typically neglect spouses and children and make promises they don't keep, such as missing birthday parties or ball games.
``Like alcoholics who stop for one more drink, workaholics complete one more assignment and miss their family obligations,'' said Haymon, who is now a psychological resident at the Apalachee Center for Human Services Employee Assistance Program in Tallahassee, Fla.
A study on female workaholics was being planned, she said.
by CNB