Episode 75 | Never Not Working: How Always-On Cultures are Bad for People and Business

By

About Dr. Malissa Clark:

Malissa Clark is an associate professor of industrial/organizational (I-O) psychology at the University of Georgia, where she has been on faculty since 2013. Currently, Clark serves as associate head of the department of psychology and director of the Healthy Work Lab. She is a recognized expert on the topics of workaholism, overwork, burnout, and employee well-being.

Clark earned her Ph.D. in I-O psychology from Wayne State University, and her B.A. in organizational studies from the University of Michigan. She has received awards for her writing and mentoring, and her work has been funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP). In 2023, Clark was named a Fellow of SIOP, a status that recognizes unusual and outstanding contributions that have an important impact on I-O psychology. 

Her first book, Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture Is Bad for Business—and How to Fix It, launches in February 2024. Clark’s work has been published in premier outlets such as Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Management, and Journal of Organizational Behavior. She serves on the editorial boards of Journal of Applied Psychology and Personnel Psychology and as action editor for Journal of Business and Psychology and Occupational Health Science. Clark is passionate about bridging the scientist-practitioner gap and advocating for healthier workplaces and worker well-being through her speaking and consulting. Her work has been featured on various podcasts and in outlets such as Time, US News and World Report, New York Times, and The Atlantic. She currently serves as a member of the NIOSH Healthy Work Design and Well-Being Council. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and travelling.

Episode Notes:

Dr. Laura welcomes Dr. Malissa Clark, an associate professor of Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Georgia, about workaholism and her upcoming book, “Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture is Bad for Business – and How to Fix It”. Dr. Clark defines modern day workaholism, and explains why it’s so detrimental to both individuals and businesses.

There is an aspect of workaholism that’s “like water to a fish”, according to Malissa Clark, which is that we are so immersed in work that we simply don’t notice it. She works to define workaholism and breaks it down into four main components: behavioral, motivational, emotional, and cognitive. Dr. Clark unpacks each of the components, which are detailed in her book, and talks about the research, interviews, and thoughts that she drew upon when writing “Never Not Working”. This episode dovetails nicely with the focus on remote and hybrid work that Dr. Laura focuses on, bringing work wellness and health into the forefront of discussion.

“…we synthesized all of the research on the relationship between level of workaholism and performance ratings. And we basically find no relationship. And that is including if they were rating themselves or the bosses were rating their performance… my research and other people’s research continually shows over and over again that not only do we not find that relationship… but we find that workaholism is related to a whole host of other detrimental outcomes, such as workaholics tend to be sometimes not the best coworkers and bosses for a variety of reasons.” Dr. Malissa Clark

Resources:

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations:

Season 4 Episodes:

Episode 56 | The Evolution of Flexibility at Work with Dr. Laura

About Dr. Laura: KEYNOTE SPEAKER | PSYCHOLOGIST | THOUGHT LEADER | PODCAST HOST | AUTHOR Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett helps organizations and people to grow and thrive, using the principles of organizational psychology. Through leading, speaking, writing, coaching, and...

Episode 55 | The Secrets to Happiness at Work

About Dr. Tracy Brower, PhD, MM, MCRW: Dr. Tracy Brower is a PhD sociologist studying work-life fulfillment and happiness. She is the author of a new book, The Secrets to Happiness at Work as well as her previous book, Bring Work to Life. She is the Vice President of...

More Thriving Human Episodes:

Episode 68 | Money and Well-Being: How the Pink Tax Harms Us All

About Janine Rogan: Janine Rogan, CPA, is a passionate keynote and TEDx speaker. She is the Founder and CEO of The Wealth Building Academy Inc. and an award-winning CPA. Her mission is to educate and empower women to confidently and profitably grow their wealth,...

Episode 67 | Making Bold Life Changes: Turning Fear into Courage

About Samra Zafar: Samra Zafar is an award-winning internationally renowned speaker, bestselling author, and educator for equity, mental health, and human rights. Samra is currently pursuing an MD at McMaster’s DeGroote School of Medicine with the purpose of...

Episode 60 | Exploring the Human Side of Unconscious Bias at Work

About Tina Varughese: An Indo-Canadian daughter of first generation parents, Varughese says her cultural background allows her to find “the best of both worlds” and shed light, knowledge, and, most importantly, universal humor into the changing workplace. Her highly...

Episode 59 | Closing the Confidence Gap to Thrive in Your Career

About Kelli Thompson: Kelli Thompson is a women’s leadership coach and speaker who helps women advance to the rooms where decisions are made. She has coached and trained hundreds of women to trust themselves, lead with more confidence, and create a career they love....

Listen on Your Favorite Apps

Copyright © Dr. Laura 2022