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Is the issue really work-life balance, or mental health? They are actually two separate things. I had a roommate lose it. He was very disciplined, but had a

Is the issue really work-life balance, or mental health? They are actually two separate things. I had a roommate lose it. He was very disciplined, but had a chemical imbalance in his head. He was a hard worker, but did this really have any impact on his losing it? I am not an expert, but I doubt it. The end lesson of "Don't kill yourself for a company if they don't respect you" may be true, but that seems a little disconnected from taking care of your mental health.

peterkelly 14y ago
Is the issue really work-life balance, or mental health? They are actually two separate things. Perhaps, but I believe there's a close relationship between the two. Getting the balance wrong can definitely lead to mental health problems.
- mathattack 14y ago
  Maybe overwork exacerbates things, but sometimes it's just chemicals wrong in the head. It can be dangerous to treat major mental illness without addressing the biochemistry. In general I am not pro medication, but breakdowns can be deeper than work. Of course an 80 hour work week won't help an already unstable person.
  - peterkelly 14y ago
    Agreed. I think anyone in this situation should definitely consult a mental health professional. Depending on the factors though it can be a variety of things, and it may be a case of someone who does have a chemical imbalance but is normally fine if working at normal levels, but the overwork can push them over the edge.
yekko 14y ago
The real issue is pay for performance.
- peterkelly 14y ago
  No amount of money is going to help you if you're consistently working 80+ ours a week over a long period of time.
  - yekko 14y ago
    Not even 1 Million a year? 10 million a year? It is only fair.
    - peterkelly 14y ago
      No, not even $100 million or $1b a year. There's a point at which health becomes more important than money. If someone is working so hard that the stress is taking such a toll that their marriage is at risk, they end up in a mental hospital, and/or are considering suicide, money ceases to become a consideration. The most important thing for employers to consider in this sense is the wellbeing of their employees - this comes above everything else. If someone is healthy and happy, they can do a lot. If someone is stressed and unhappy, they're going to produce little. And at the end of the day, the best way to improve performance is to ensure a proper work/life balance. It's about working smarter, not harder.
      - yekko 14y ago
        Oh well, I'll take it.

peterkelly 14y ago

Is the issue really work-life balance, or mental health? They are actually two separate things. Perhaps, but I believe there's a close relationship between the two. Getting the balance wrong can definitely lead to mental health problems.

mathattack 14y ago
Maybe overwork exacerbates things, but sometimes it's just chemicals wrong in the head. It can be dangerous to treat major mental illness without addressing the biochemistry. In general I am not pro medication, but breakdowns can be deeper than work. Of course an 80 hour work week won't help an already unstable person.
- peterkelly 14y ago
  Agreed. I think anyone in this situation should definitely consult a mental health professional. Depending on the factors though it can be a variety of things, and it may be a case of someone who does have a chemical imbalance but is normally fine if working at normal levels, but the overwork can push them over the edge.

yekko 14y ago

The real issue is pay for performance.

peterkelly 14y ago
No amount of money is going to help you if you're consistently working 80+ ours a week over a long period of time.
- yekko 14y ago
  Not even 1 Million a year? 10 million a year? It is only fair.
  - peterkelly 14y ago
    No, not even $100 million or $1b a year. There's a point at which health becomes more important than money. If someone is working so hard that the stress is taking such a toll that their marriage is at risk, they end up in a mental hospital, and/or are considering suicide, money ceases to become a consideration. The most important thing for employers to consider in this sense is the wellbeing of their employees - this comes above everything else. If someone is healthy and happy, they can do a lot. If someone is stressed and unhappy, they're going to produce little. And at the end of the day, the best way to improve performance is to ensure a proper work/life balance. It's about working smarter, not harder.
    - yekko 14y ago
      Oh well, I'll take it.