Workaholic colleagues: A boon or a bane?

Of course they are a bane! I will just narrate an incident about a former colleague in my first office. This girl used to work at the reception. Our office timings were 10am to 6pm. Everyday, this girl came to office around 9:25 – 9:30 am (the first to come to office), had her lunch within 10 –15mins max., (when our lunch time was for 30mins) and left office never before 6:30 in the evening. Initially none of us noticed but gradually it dawned on us that tomorrow or day-after, all of us would be expected to show same “seriousness” towards our work and if we didn’t come early and leave late, we would be branded as inefficient and work-shirkers. Also, if we finished our work within the stipulated time and did not overstay unnecessarily, it would be marked against us as unwilling to stay late and reflected during our annual increment. I think some people spoke to her about it and anyway, she left our organization soon after. But she was a real pain and she was only the receptionist. I shudder to think of such workaholics in influential positions, who have lot of subordinates!

i have an officemate who would work late and ever on weekends just to finish her tasks. she really goes out of her way just to make sure all the things in her to-do list is finished. despite this attitude, she's the nicest person you could ever meet. she doesn't take the credit for other people's work, she even praises that person for doing a good job. people like her makes our company geniunely work as a team.

When you have a lot of work, these kind of colleuges are a boon.