Charles Handy article on how it is necessary for workers to find time away from their work so that it does not become addictive, and how employees are working much longer hours to their detriment. Handy begins the article discussing the pace at which industrialized society’s urban citizens walk, stating that the richer one is, the faster one lives. He proceeds to note how, in addition to walking faster, employees also work longer, strive harder, and endure more stressful lives in order to become richer, and that everyday working hours have risen over the last two decades. Handy then observes how the Japanese have a word for overwork called “karoshi,” which translates to “can’t take it,” and highlights how depression on the job in America is costing Americans billions, the same as heart disease. He then ponders whether people are creating new myths and ideals for themselves as overworked executives, and how that reality may bode ill for society because people will likely attempt to make things simple in order to operate and compensate for their tiredness. Handy concludes that it is the organization, customers, and clients which suffer as a result of such tactics used by tired employees, and recommends balance in handling modern working life--creating stability zones of tranquility to complement stressful situations and work environments.
Handy, Charles B Japanese Cooper, Cary L Massachusetts Institute of Technology Toffler, Alvin Walking Great Britain Work-life balance Fatigue Institute of Directors Working hours Karōshi Ecclesiastes (Book of the Old Testament) Overwork, Mental
Source
Charles Handy article on how it is necessary for workers to find time away from their work so that it does not become addictive, and how employees are working much longer hours to their detriment, 1994; Charles Handy Papers; Box 20, Folder 8; 1 page
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