The relationship between heavy work investment and employees’ happiness

Modern life has made the workplace one of the most meaningful domains in people’s lives. Harpaz and Meshoulam (2004) note that people deem work more important than leisure, community, and religion. In several studies, work was ranked second only to family (Harding & Hikspoors, 1995; Harpaz, 1990; MOW-International Research Team, 1987; Harpaz & Meshoulam, 2009). The workplace also plays a crucial role in helping individuals achieve and maintain their self-esteem, status, and sense of accomplishment (Harpaz, 1990; Snir & Harpaz, 2002b; Snir & Harpaz, 2004). Organizational scholars have found that work can be a source of happiness (Judge & Kammeyer-Mueller, 2011). The great importance of the work domain, combined with opportunities for actualization in the workplace, has caused many individuals to work excessively and invest long hours in their jobs. The term “workaholism”, coined by Oates (1971), is now commonplace in daily language to express employees’ heavy work investment in their jobs (Harpaz & Snir, 2003; McMillan, Brady, O’Driscoll, & Marsh, 2002; Snir & Harpaz, 2012). Burke (2000a) notes the ongoing debate on the association between heavy work investment and personal well-being, and the lack of consensus as to whether the relationship between these two variables is positive or negative.