The workaholism phenomenon: a cross‐national perspective

Raphael Snir · Itzhak Harpaz

97 citations0/0 files storedCareer Development International

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Workaholism, burnout, and well-being Work-Family Balance Challenges Workplace Health and Well-being

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the workaholism phenomenon. Design/methodology/approach Workaholism was defined as the individual's steady and considerable allocation of time to work, which is not derived from external necessities. Subsequently, it was measured as time invested in paid work, controlling for the financial needs for such an investment. Workaholism is examined from a cross‐national perspective through representative samples of the labor force in Belgium, Israel, Japan, The Netherlands, and the USA Findings The Japanese worked more hours per week than all other nationalities. The following findings have remained stable across nations: respondents with a high level of work centrality worked more hours per week than did those with a low level of work centrality. Men worked more hours per week than women. Married women worked fewer hours per week than unmarried women, while married men worked more hours per week than unmarried men. Private‐sector employees worked more hours per week than public‐sector employees. Research limitations/implications The cross‐national comparisons are based on aggregated self‐reported data obtained from individuals. However, the present study makes three major contributions: applying a non‐biased definition of workaholism, indicating that the existing conceptualizations of workaholism as an attitude have underestimated the importance of sex‐roles in shaping work patterns and behaviors, and findings of similarities as well as of differences across nations on the phenomenon of workaholism. Practical implications Developing awareness of cultural variations concerning workaholism. Originality/value This is perhaps the only empirical study so far making a cross‐national comparison of workaholism, which also has high external validity.

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References

1972Self-Perception Theory 1987THE PEOPLE MAKE THE PLACE 1999A Theory of Cultural Values and Some Implications for Work 1989The Second Shift 1999The origins of sex differences in human behavior: Evolved dispositions versus social roles.1978Social categorization, social identity and social comparison 1995THE ASA FRAMEWORK: AN UPDATE 2003The Origins of Sex Differences in Human Behavior: Evolved Dispositions versus Social Roles

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