Whether intrinsically or extrinsically motivated, many of us want to do our best in the career path we have decided on. However, according to Stanley et al. (2023), this could result in exploitation. The article explored how the delegation of work is often based on loyalty. The study indicated that managers often see additional work as the price of loyalty, expecting the worker to make more personal sacrifices for their company. This form of exploitation is called ethical blindness, where the managers may not be doing it out of maliciousness but more based on the company's needs. It is an unfortunate side effect of an overall positive trait. With loyalty comes a higher workload, but they are also more likely to be awarded as a result.
Due to its complex nature, the paper did not offer the best way to manage this challenge. However, it would not be unusual for burnout or higher stress may result.
As such, balancing one's work with life is essential to allow the individual to better deal with additional stress.
If you are ever feeling stressed or having difficulty and want to talk about ways to deal with it, please do not hesitate to reach out to us here for a free consultation.
“Loyal Workers Are Selectively And Ironically Targeted For Exploitation,” Matthew L. Stanley, Christopher B. Neck, Christopher P. Neck. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Jan. 6, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.jesp.2022.104442