At a time when discussions on the need for work-life balance have taken centerstage, a Reddit post by an employee on " office addicts " especially in India has struck a chord with many netizens. In the post, the person writes about how in the modern professional world, staying late at the office, skipping breaks, and refusing to log off have almost become badges of honour. Workaholism is often applauded as dedication, but it can be a serious problem for those who value having a work-life balance and personal time off work.
The person vented about colleagues who practically live at the office (read "office addicts" and workaholics), sticking around long after their work is done just to look busy. These aren’t folks pulling extra hours during crunch time— they’re doing it every day, even when there’s nothing urgent on their plate. For someone trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance, being surrounded by these overachievers becomes not just frustrating but downright exhausting.
What makes it worse is their resistance to flexible working options like work from home. While remote work has made life easier for many, these 'workaholic' employees treat it like a lazy alternative. Their rigid commitment to physically being in the office sets an unspoken standard for everyone else, thus forcing others too also follow suit —even when it’s unnecessary. The result? This leads to a workplace culture where presence matters more than productivity, and where the line between office life and personal life is constantly blurred.
According to the Reddit post, these office addicts don’t just overwork— they seem to shape their entire identities around their jobs. Whether it's showing up early, engaging in non-stop office gossip, or clinging to coworkers for weekend plans, their social lives revolve solely around the workplace. And this gets worse when such people become managers, as they now command others to follow them in overstaying at the workplace. Instead of fostering a healthy, motivating environment, such managers create a culture of burnout. Their definition of “leadership” involves expecting their team to match their long hours at work, ignoring the very real need for rest, family time, or just having a life outside of work. As the Reddit user put it, “Let people live a little.” His words summed up a collective exhaustion shared by many professionals who constantly feel pulled into someone else’s hustle.
The post quickly gained traction, with many employees shared similar stories. One person recalled how their department head would proudly arrive at 7 AM and leave at 10 PM each day and tell this to others— despite being just a few years away from retirement. What he viewed as dedication, was what others didn't aspire to do.
Another Redditor revealed how an unmarried manager at their workplace would used work as a distraction-- possibly to combat loneliness. He’d stretch out tasks unnecessarily, manufacture urgency where there was none, and linger in the office long after everyone else had wrapped up. His goal? Not better results— but companionship. He’d even take over a dozen cigarette breaks a day just to pass the time. The problem? His personal struggles spilled into the professional space, dragging his team along for the ride.
One more story stood out— a married manager who stayed late at the office not because of workload, but because it helped him dodge household responsibilities. He’d use excuses like traffic or late deadlines to avoid going home. Meanwhile, his family saw him as a hardworking hero, unaware he was using work as a shield. Naturally, he expected the same devotion from his team, unintentionally—or maybe even intentionally— pushing them to do the same.
All these examples highlight a growing issue in today’s work culture: when people confuse overwork with dedication, it doesn’t just harm them—it affects everyone around them. It sets a tone where productivity is measured in hours rather than outcomes, and where saying no to after-hours emails or weekend meetings is seen as slacking off.
What are your views on such "office addicts" and work cultures? Tell us in the comments section below.
The person vented about colleagues who practically live at the office (read "office addicts" and workaholics), sticking around long after their work is done just to look busy. These aren’t folks pulling extra hours during crunch time— they’re doing it every day, even when there’s nothing urgent on their plate. For someone trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance, being surrounded by these overachievers becomes not just frustrating but downright exhausting.
What makes it worse is their resistance to flexible working options like work from home. While remote work has made life easier for many, these 'workaholic' employees treat it like a lazy alternative. Their rigid commitment to physically being in the office sets an unspoken standard for everyone else, thus forcing others too also follow suit —even when it’s unnecessary. The result? This leads to a workplace culture where presence matters more than productivity, and where the line between office life and personal life is constantly blurred.
According to the Reddit post, these office addicts don’t just overwork— they seem to shape their entire identities around their jobs. Whether it's showing up early, engaging in non-stop office gossip, or clinging to coworkers for weekend plans, their social lives revolve solely around the workplace. And this gets worse when such people become managers, as they now command others to follow them in overstaying at the workplace. Instead of fostering a healthy, motivating environment, such managers create a culture of burnout. Their definition of “leadership” involves expecting their team to match their long hours at work, ignoring the very real need for rest, family time, or just having a life outside of work. As the Reddit user put it, “Let people live a little.” His words summed up a collective exhaustion shared by many professionals who constantly feel pulled into someone else’s hustle.
The post quickly gained traction, with many employees shared similar stories. One person recalled how their department head would proudly arrive at 7 AM and leave at 10 PM each day and tell this to others— despite being just a few years away from retirement. What he viewed as dedication, was what others didn't aspire to do.
Another Redditor revealed how an unmarried manager at their workplace would used work as a distraction-- possibly to combat loneliness. He’d stretch out tasks unnecessarily, manufacture urgency where there was none, and linger in the office long after everyone else had wrapped up. His goal? Not better results— but companionship. He’d even take over a dozen cigarette breaks a day just to pass the time. The problem? His personal struggles spilled into the professional space, dragging his team along for the ride.
One more story stood out— a married manager who stayed late at the office not because of workload, but because it helped him dodge household responsibilities. He’d use excuses like traffic or late deadlines to avoid going home. Meanwhile, his family saw him as a hardworking hero, unaware he was using work as a shield. Naturally, he expected the same devotion from his team, unintentionally—or maybe even intentionally— pushing them to do the same.
All these examples highlight a growing issue in today’s work culture: when people confuse overwork with dedication, it doesn’t just harm them—it affects everyone around them. It sets a tone where productivity is measured in hours rather than outcomes, and where saying no to after-hours emails or weekend meetings is seen as slacking off.
What are your views on such "office addicts" and work cultures? Tell us in the comments section below.
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