This is the hidden cost of being a ‘good’ worker 

The things that can get you ahead at work can end up costing you in your personal life.

[Image: N-Universe/Adobe Stock]

Has an event outside of work ever made you stop and realize that work has taken over more of your life than you realized? These events are called crossover jolts. They often sneak up on us after we’ve been in a job for a while. When we begin a new role, we start by mastering the tasks in our job description. But then we start taking on more responsibilities. 

There’s a name for this phenomenon—job creep. Tasks that were once above and beyond our job duties slowly become the norm. Imagine working toward the deadline on a big project. During the final week, we respond to emails at night after the kids have gone to bed (even though we promised ourselves we would never be a person who does that). 

In doing so, we’ve sent a signal to our coworkers that we’ll respond at night. So even after the big project is done, we feel the need to occasionally check our email before bed and respond. Without realizing it, our work life has annexed a small part of our personal life. We’ve chosen to go beyond our job description on behalf of the company. 

When job creep turns from good to bad 

When we love our job and are advancing in our careers, job creep isn’t bad. It’s how we develop as employees and climb the organizational ladder. Because it happens gradually, we often don’t notice this ballooning. Until it causes an event that disrupts our well-being or relationships outside of work. At that point, job creep becomes a potential barrier to our pursuit of the good life. 

So why do so many of us unwittingly give in to job creep? Because companies reward this behavior. 

What motivates us at work 

To truly understand the roots of crossover jolts, we need to take a journey into our motivation at work. We also need to examine the good, the bad, and the ugly of being seen as a good “organizational citizen.” 

Think for a moment about what being a good citizen in society means to you. You’ll probably imagine someone who helps neighbors in need. Picks up trash on the sidewalk. Attends community meetings. Similarly, acts of citizenship at work refer to the positive things you do, often of your own accord, that are above and beyond your job description. 

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