There is an addiction that is prevalent in our society and of rising concern. Workaholism is a very modern concept which society tends not to recognise it as a problem. It is not a traditional type of addiction, and one that still isn’t fully understood. The effects of workaholism are far more severe than people realise. There is a fine line between loving to work and workaholism, which is a line that is very difficult to define. Even the difference between wanting to succeed and being a workaholic is minor. In order to find this point, certain considerations must be made. Consideration of the cultural values of a society is essential, because the expectations in different cultures differ vastly. The individual psychology of a person should be evaluated, because it is not society as a whole that holds the beliefs of a workaholic. Obsession with work threatens health, relationships, communities and the environment (Sumner, 2003). It is a subculture that has become part of our lives and can have great impact on society.

The problem of workaholism exists when work success is seen as a measure of our self-worth. Hard-workers are acknowledged and appreciated in society and so it is difficult

European countries however, tend to hold a completely different work ethic with many weeks holiday allowed annually, depending on the country. Some countries take their holidays all at once. Spain’s cities essentially shut down for at least a month in the summer, with so many taking leave in the hottest time of the year. Even the banks are closed for weeks. It is also common to have daily siesta time allocated for lunch in the afternoons, where children can come home from school, and shops shut for a few hours. This is the norm, and the appreciation of life in Europe, which is so far from the dedication to work which is expected in the US. However, this is only the general work ethic of Europeans, and over-work is not limited to just work-oriented nations. In the last week of September 2003, The New Zealand Herald printed that in the past 5 years, US per capita productivity has risen while New Zealand's has declined. It is no surprise why, when you look at how much time off we get. It is no surprise either why goods cost so much here. In America, October 24th is the day the average American will have worked the equivalent of a full European work year (Sumner, 2003). The difference between countries around the world means ‘workaholism’ will differ when we apply it to different countries, but the idea is consistent, that surpasses language barriers and cultural differences, that over-work has negative effects on communities and individuals

In New Zealand there is such a high expectation for people to work beyond what is required of them. The contract requirements are often no longer ‘nine ‘til five’ but list the work week as Monday to Sunday. Companies are often highly goal oriented, and workers may have to take work home to meet deadlines or complete their workload. In competitive industries there exists a fear of losing your job, your status, and your consuming ability. We need to differentiate those who work because they want to and those who need to in order to meet their basic needs. Individuals who feel great need to over exert themselves are those of concern, because the reasons behind their addiction to work are not necessarily logical. Many workaholics are employees that are on salaries and do not receive monetary gain from working longer hours. They often bring work home, even just psychologically, and their work can become integrated with their personality. Workaholics often find they have nothing else to talk about in a social setting, except for their work. A workaholic finds their life revolves around their work. It is gratifying to workaholics to achieve, to be respected, or to be an authority and have power. An article called ‘Avoiding Workaholism’ states the following as a guide to distinguishing a workaholic; You are tired, irritable, socially isolated, and might even have physical stress symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, shortness of breath, racing heart, muscle tension, or ulcers. (http://www.beth-elsa.org/be_s0421.htm).

In our modern day consumer society, we have become immersed in a business values world. Commerce makes the world function. This is especially true because now there is more of a focus on work and pay than ever before. Women are working and diversity is valued, so the percentage of workers around the world has increased. The effects of a consumer society are obvious and the lifestyles much of the world maintains are a direct result, but we have to work hard to achieve these lifestyles. A change has taken place from working for our basic needs, to working to maintain our desire for unessential material goods. Affluenza is a term coined to recognise the reckless spending that has grabbed hold of developed countries, especially the United States. We are consuming rapidly through our resources and have a need to continuously spend our money. We base our idea of what is wealthy or the norm on what we see from those around us. So, whole societies have been affected, which is

Some topics in this essay:
Sleep Foundation, Culture Workaholism, Safety Act, Job Life’, Zealand Herald, Washington Day, European Sumner, Fletcher Challenge, Act Story, Labour Government, sumner 2003, decline religion, consumer society, workplace stress, negative effects, story 2003, work/life balance, weeks annual leave, communities individuals, business values, individual psychology,