The Hidden Cost of Workaholism: Busting Overwork Myths (feat. Malissa Clark)

Malissa Clark is a Professor of industrial/organizational (I-O) psychology at the University of Georgia, where she has been on faculty since 2013. Currently, she serves as Head of the department of psychology and director of the Healthy Work Lab. Recently selected as a member of the 2024 Thinkers 50 Radar list and a finalist for the 2025 Thinkers50 Radar Award, Malissa is a recognized expert on the topics of workaholism, overwork, burnout, and employee well-being. Her first book, Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture Is Bad for Business and How to Fix It, was published in February 2024. Never Not Working has been recognized as one of the top management books of 2024, including being named one of Adam Grant’s 12 New Idea Books to Launch in 2024 and top 5 Porchlight Books Best Management and Workplace Culture Books of 2024.

Key Takeaways:

1. Workaholism is not the same as working long hours
2. True workaholism stems from an uncontrollable internal drive
3. Overworking often leads to burnout and reduced productivity
4. Cultural norms can glamorize unhealthy work habits
5. Leaders must model and support healthy boundaries

Additional Resources:

Malissa Clark, Author, “Never Not Working” https://a.co/d/e5HSRpd

Follow Malissa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malissa-clark-phd/

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