Employers with zealous, uncomplaining employees and near negligible absenteeism might be forgiven for feeling blessed, but they might be better to feel wary. These apparent blessings can be manifestations of esprit de corps and exemplary management. They can also be symptoms of a sick workplace, where employees feel too driven and fearful to speak up.
Zealous individuals are often the last to complain about workplace conditions that are crying for attention. They are also the most likely to “soldier on” despite sickness or other conditions that undermine their productivity and put them at risk to themselves and others. Call it zeal or call it stoicism, it can be a costly burden if it is left unchecked and untreated.
In an article in Industry Week in June and in replies to The Ergonomics Report
This article originally appeared in The Ergonomics Report™ on 2006-07-12.