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It’s almost 7pm, and Jenn still at work, plugging away, finishing this project or that quarterly report. She’s exhausted, has been plugging along for hours, maybe even skipped lunch, and is intent on showing she can handle her workload and more. The traditional adage according to which the best workers are the first in the office and last to leave is playing over and over in her head. She wants to pay her dues, and show everyone she can make it to the top, even at the expense of her family, sanity, and health.
Sounds familiar? Maybe all too familiar…If you’re a corporate sister who’s been trying to climb the corporate ladder, trying to pay your dues and prove yourself to management, you may very well understand Jenn. Especially when considering that, according to a recent Catalyst study, women represent only 46.8% of the US labor force, 51.4% of management and professional occupations, 14.6% of executive officers, and 4.8% of CEOs. Sobering figures? Definitely…And when it comes to minority women in the workplace, the figures are even more sobering.
Considering these limiting statistics, would it make sense for women to overwork to compensate for the absence of professional opportunities for women? While it may seem so, as confirmed by CNBC’s revelation that only 25% of Americans used their vacation in 2013, and 15% did not even use any of their vacation days, overworking is definitely more overrated than it appears. It doesn’t help that the media keeps on portraying characters with workaholic lifestyles. I’m a huge fan of Scandal’s Olivia Pope, but really, as much as I covet her impeccable wardrobe and no-less impeccable work ethics, I can’t exactly relate to her clean apartment, late night emergency work calls or single lifestyle. And unlike my Grey’s Anatomy Thursday night pals, spending my life in the operating block, with no time for personal life, is not exactly my idea of career success! Besides, studies have proven that a weak immune system, stress, mental health issues, weight gain and heart disease are all results of a workaholic lifestyle.
So is it worth it for ambitious, overachieving career sisters to give it all to their career and pay the price for success? Or is overworking really overrated, after carefully considering the real price many of us really have to pay for the modest acknowledgment the majority of us receive? I’d say the latter…. As for Jenn, she may still be plugging along at the office, lifting her head every now and then, wondering what else she may be missing out on…
The Corporate Sister.
