Work-life balance problems? Take this test to find out if you have an 'extreme' job

Hands up those of you who couldn't but help yourselves from having a little peek at your work e-mails while you were supposed to be on holiday? Yes - quite a few I suspect.

According to Sylvia Ann Hewlett, successful professionals are working harder than ever before and find themselves in 'extreme jobs' - which she defines as one in which an employee works for 60 hours or more per week, is a high earner and holds a position with at least five of the following characteristics:

1. Unpredictable flow of work

2. Fast-paced work under tight deadlines

3. Inordinate scope of responsibility that amounts to more than one job

4. Work-related events outside regular work hours

5. Availability to clients 24/7

6. Responsibility for profit and loss

7. Responsibility for mentoring and recruiting

8. Large amount of travel

9. Large number of direct reports

10. Physical presence at workplace at least 10 hours a day

Is this you?

In an interview in the Rotman School of Management Magazine (Fall 2007), Ms Hewlett adds that despite these pressures, her research shows that 76 per cent of extreme workers absolutely love their jobs which they find exhilarating and that nobody is forcing them to work these hours.

Nevertheless there are problems with such jobs. Ms Hewlett suggests that work can become a social centre: "When your best friends and most stimulating encounters are at the office, the prospect of working late into the night becomes less onerous." There is a tendency among these types of workers for home and Work to swap places. The former becomes a source of stress and guilt - while the latter acts as a haven.

Hewlett advises that senior executives must think carefully about the work behaviours they are rewarding: "The signals they send will determine whether jobs become extreme, and if so, whether they remain exhilarating or simply become extreme.

On this basis - my fellow bloggers are in real trouble. First Carly tries to impress the boss by putting up a post on Christmas day and Robert reveals that he rejoices in the fact that he's in work in the "dog days between Christmas and New Year". Colleagues, you are addicted to work - stop it and get out more often.

Comments

[Rob Gear]

As a holiday rep for a major Uk tour operator I was suprised to find 8/10 of the above apply to my job role plus the hours definately could not be considered a high earner though!

[Helen]

I would answer 'yes' to most of the above questions as a self-employed small entrepreneur - apart from the money, that is. But there's nothing like being in business for yourself after a life in the corporate hamster cage!