An estimated 1.7 million Americans are working in high-pressure positions that require 70+ hours a week – “extreme jobs.”

Some can thrive on long hours, especially if they love their jobs (and feel they can gain competitive advantage).

Such demanding positions, however, may also pose challenges. Driven (or pushed) professionals can face significant problems in their private lives (family, relationships, health). Their so-called “work-life” balance doesn’t exist.

The data show that the extreme work model is wreaking havoc in private lives—taking a toll on health, gutting relationships, sideswiping sex lives, and emptying out parental roles. Much of this fall out has particular significance for women.

Retaining upper-level, skilled professionals at that standard will also be a challenge to HR.

“The ultimate price may be paid in succession planning if maxed-out professionals stop striving for top jobs,” say Sylvia Ann Hewlett and Carolyn Buck Luce.

Demographics:

Younger vs Older Workers – A full third of employees younger than 44 are likely to leave their positions within the next two years if they are working 60+ hours per week, but only 19 percent of older employees working long works are ready to leave their jobs.

Women vs Men – 57 percent of women said they’re unwilling to take on such schedules for more than a year, but only 48 percent of men expressed similar reservations.

• Mark Rowh, “Working to Extremes,” Human Resource Executive, July 3, 2007


• Sylvia Ann Hewlett, Women and the new ‘extreme’ jobs, Boston Globe, Dec. 2 2006


• Sylvia Ann Hewlett and Carolyn Buck Luce, “Extreme Jobs: The Dangerous Allure of the 70-Hour Workweek,” Harvard Business Review, December 2006

It would be interesting to see a study that compared behavioral styles among these same participants.

Some possible behavioral style factors might include:

Extreme jobs might be fulfilling for High Ds (results-driven), especially if they also have a Low S (like to do a lot of different things at a quick pace).

High Cs may feel they have to work longer hours – whether they really want to or not – to make sure everything is done according to their high standards.

A High S likes a steady pace and a predictable schedule. While they may take longer to get things done, long hours would only work if they really felt like part of the team. Otherwise, they’d rather spend time with their families.

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