16 Clear Signs Of A Workaholic Coworker

Unlike a boss, who may delegate some of their work, a workaholic coworker is the type of person who is always working. Here are some more signs of a workaholic coworker.

There’s no accurate data on how many people in the workforce are workaholics.

A 2006 study by the American Psychological Association found that:

“20% of workers considered themselves workaholics.”

16 Obvious Signs Of A Workaholic Coworker

If you have a coworker who is always working, they may be a workaholic. Here are some signs to look for:

1. Workaholic Coworkers are Always Working:

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s the most obvious sign of a workaholic coworker.

They’re always working, even when they’re not supposed to be. Like when they’re on vacation, they’ll still be working.

Or, they’ll take work home with them and work on weekends. Or, they’ll come in early and stay late.

They are the first to arrive and the last to leave. And, they take the least amount of vacation time from everyone in the office.

Whenever you find them, they’re always working on something.

2. They’re Missed When They’re Gone:

If your coworker is a workaholic, you’ll notice they’re missed when they’re gone.

When they take a day off, it’s obvious. The work doesn’t get done as efficiently, and there’s much catching up to do when they’re back.

This is usually because they’re taking on more responsibility than they should be. But it’s also a sign that they’re a workaholic.

They’re also missed because they’re the go-to person for everything. And, people are used to them being around all the time.

3. Workaholic Coworkers are Always Available:

A workaholic coworker is always available. They’re always available to take on more work, even if it’s not their responsibility.

And they’re always available to answer questions, even if it’s outside their area of expertise.

This is because they’re always working and thinking about work. Even if you text or call them after hours, they’ll usually respond immediately.

Not only are they always available, but they’re also always willing to help. They like to be helpful, and they want to feel needed.

Being always available and always willing to help can be a good thing. But, when it’s to the point where it’s interfering with their personal life, then it’s a problem.

4. They’re Perfectionists:

Workaholics are perfectionists. They want everything to be perfect, and they want it done right now.

This can be a good thing, but it can also be a bad thing. If your coworker is a workaholic, they’re probably always striving for perfection.

And, they’re probably always putting pressure on themselves to be perfect.

This can lead to them making mistakes, and it can also lead to them being stressed out all the time.

And, when they’re stressed out, they’re probably not going to be as productive as they could be.

5. Workaholic Coworkers are Competitive:

A workaholic coworker is usually very competitive. They want to be the best at everything, and they want to be better than everyone else.

This can be a good thing, but it can also be a bad thing. It can be frustrating if your coworker is always trying to one-up everyone else.

And, it can also lead to them not working as well as a team. They may be unwilling to collaborate because they want to do everything themselves.

And, they may not be willing to listen to other people’s ideas. They think they’re better than everyone else.

6. They Have A Hard Time Relaxing:

If your coworker is a workaholic, they probably have difficulty relaxing. Even when they’re not working, they’re probably thinking about work.

And, they may not be able to enjoy their hobbies. Or their personal life because they’re always thinking about work.

This is because they’re so used to working all the time that they don’t know how to relax.

And it can also be because they’re so used to being in control that they don’t know how to let go.

They may not be able to take a break, even when they’re on vacation. And they may not be able to relax and enjoy their time off.

7. They’re Always Tired:

If your coworker is a workaholic, they’re probably constantly tired. They’re always working, and they’re never getting enough rest.

Some signs of tiredness are irritability, forgetfulness and a lack of focus.

They are either yawning a lot or have dark circles under their eyes.

This can be bad because it can lead to them being less productive. And it can also lead to them getting sick more often.

They may not be able to concentrate, and they may make more mistakes. And, they may not be able to think as clearly as they could if they were well-rested.

8. Workaholic Coworkers are Grumpy:

If your coworker is a workaholic, they’re probably always grumpy. They’re constantly stressed out, and they’re never able to relax.

And, when they’re grumpy, they’re probably not very pleasant to be around.

They may snap at people or be short with them. And they may not be very willing to help out or collaborate with others.

This can be a bad thing because it can make it hard to work with them. And it can also lead to them being less productive.

Not only that, but their grumpiness may also rub off on other people. It can make the work environment less enjoyable for everyone.

9. They Have A Hard Time Saying “No”:

If your coworker is a workaholic, they probably have difficulty saying “no.”

They’re always saying “yes” to everything, and they’re never able to say “no” to anything.

When the boss asks them to do something, they always say “yes.”

And, even when they’re already overloaded with work, they’ll still say “yes” to more work.

This can be bad because it can lead to them being overworked and stressed out. And it can also lead to them making mistakes.

They may not be able to concentrate, and they may not be able to do their best work.

10. Workaholic Coworkers are Disorganized:

If your coworker is a workaholic, they’re probably disorganized.

They’re always trying to do too many things at once, and they’re never able to keep track of everything.

Or they may not be able to keep track of their work. Sometimes, they may not even know what they should be working on.

Disorganization is the root of a lot of problems. It can lead to them being less productive, and it can also lead to them making mistakes.

So, if your coworker is always disorganized, it may be a sign that they’re a workaholic.

11. They’re Never Satisfied:

If your coworker is a workaholic, they’re probably never satisfied. They’re always looking for ways to improve and never happy with what they have.

They’re always looking for ways to do things better. And they’re never satisfied with the way things are.

No matter how much they accomplish, it’s never enough for them.

Rather than being content with their accomplishments, they look for ways to do more.

Their ultimate goal is to be the best and never stop improving.

12. They’re Obsessed With Their Work:

Did you ever see someone all injured due to an accident but still being in the office working? That is what we mean by saying obsessed with work.

If your coworker is a workaholic, they’re probably obsessed with their work.

They’re always thinking about their work and do not want to stop working even for a minute.

Even when they’re not working or even sleeping, they’re still thinking about their work.

This obsession can cause them a lot of problems. And it can also cause them to be less satisfied with their lives.

13 Workaholic Coworkers Forget To Eat:

If your coworker is a workaholic, they probably forget to eat. You may never see them in the cafeteria or in the kitchen.

And, when you do see them, they’re probably eating something quick and easy like a sandwich or a salad.

They’re always working and don’t have time to sit down and eat a proper meal.

And, when they eat, it’s usually because they’re hungry and need to eat something.

This behaviour can lead to them being unhealthy and sick.

14 They Don’t Go To Employees’ Parties:

If your coworker is a workaholic, they probably don’t attend employee parties.

They’re always working and don’t have time to socialize with their coworkers.

And, even when they go to parties, they’re probably not having much fun.

They’re standing in the corner by themselves, and they’re not talking to anyone.

This behaviour can lead to them being lonely and unhappy.

15 Workaholic Coworkers Don’t Have Any Hobbies:

If your coworker is a workaholic, they probably don’t have any hobbies. They’re always working and don’t have time for anything else.

And, even when they do have hobbies, they’re probably work-related.

For example, they may like to read about their work. Or they may want to research their work.

But, they don’t have any hobbies that have nothing to do with their work.

This behaviour can lead to them being one–dimensional, and it can also lead to them being unhappy.

16 They Never Take Vacations:

All employees are out for vacations. But you will find your workaholic coworker in the office working.

If they go out for vacation, it is primarily work–related. For example, they may go to a conference or a seminar.

But they’re never going to take a vacation just for fun. Or, they’re never going to take a break to relax.

No matter how much they need it, they’ll never take a vacation. Ultimately, this behaviour can lead to them burning out.

Conclusion:

Some signs of a workaholic coworker include being always working, and never taking vacations. And they forget to eat and obsess with their work a lot.

If you have a coworker who shows these signs, they may be a workaholic. And this can lead to them being unhappy and unhealthy.

You can try to talk to them about it and see if they’re willing to change their behaviour. But, ultimately, you can’t change someone else’s behaviour.

If they’re unwilling to change, you may need to distance yourself from them.

Last Updated on 8 months by Shahzaib Arshad