The Next Big Idea Daily

Never Not Working

20 snips
Oct 10, 2025
Melissa Clark, an associate professor of industrial and organizational psychology and author of Never Not Working, dives into the troubling world of workaholism. She dissects its four components and clarifies how it differs from genuine work engagement. Melissa reveals that overwork decreases both recovery and productivity, despite common assumptions. She highlights the pressures of an always-on culture, exacerbated by technology, and explains how leadership can unintentionally foster a toxic work environment, urging organizations to rethink their practices.
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INSIGHT

Workaholism Is An Internal Compulsion

  • Workaholism is more than long hours; it’s driven by internal pressures and thoughts that you must always be working.
  • Scholars define it by long hours, introjected motivation, negative emotions when not working, and constant work-related thinking.
INSIGHT

Engagement Versus Compulsion

  • Engagement and workaholism look similar but differ in where energy goes and why you work.
  • Engaged workers use intrinsic motivation and can switch off, while workaholics use introjected motivation and cannot disconnect.
ADVICE

Don’t Let Passion Mask Compulsion

  • Recognize you can love your work yet still be harmed by workaholism; benefits of engagement are limited if compulsion exists.
  • Monitor long-term risks and don't assume passion cancels out compulsive overwork.
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