Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan is known to be a workaholic, clocking 14-hour workdays and often taking work home. Find out if following his work ethic will help you earn brownie points at appraisal time
Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan is known to be a workaholic, clocking 14-hour workdays and often taking work home. Find out if following his work ethic will help you earn brownie points at appraisal time
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan believes in leading from the front and letting his work do the talking, much like his historical namesake. Thanks to 14-hour workdays, which involve taking work home and staying up as late as 2 am, Chavan might soon become the poster boy for workaholism. 
Experts caution that his routine doesn't work for everyone, and can lead to burnout and stress. "There may be better connectivity, thanks to laptops and the Blackberry, but one should not carry work home as it affects work-life balance and is unhealthy in the long run. By doing so, you are also taking home work-related conflicts and pressures, which leaves one no scope to switch off. Work is just one aspect of life; spending time alone or with family and pursuing other interests go a long way in making you a complete person," says corporate trainer Anita Shantaram.
Taking work home is becoming a problem the world over. A new study published by the American Sociological Review found that almost half of the US taskforce takes work home.
Among the pitfalls of taking work home are increased expectations. "You may be expected to do more work on a regular basis. Ideally, 10 hours of work a day should be enough to complete tasks. Working all the time reduces mind space for other activities, including rejuvenation, so productivity and efficiency both take a hit," adds Shantaram.
The Human Resource department doesn't look upon it too kindly, either. Rahul Wadhwani, managing partner with Planman Consulting, states that organisations perceive such workers as inefficient and too slow. "It's understandable if a project comes up at short notice or if there is a temporary increase in the work load, but in most cases, it's not viewed favourably. Discussing minor work issues at home is also fine as long as one doesn't reveal sensitive matters."
Experts admit however that there are professions, including politics, media, advertising, and filmmaking where there can be no real 'break' from work. Rajan Shahi, producer of TV serials like Bidaai, admits that he rarely gets to demarcate between his professional and personal commitments.
"I have to be accessible at all times. My team feels motivated when they see me work around the clock. But I take time off regularly to spend with family, read books and watch films. It's a matter of prioritising your life's goals," he concludes.
3 ways to maintain a work-life balance
> Segregate a space and specific time at home for work
> Get work done in office, instead of relying on working from home
> Have a chat with colleagues to find out if the work distribution is equal. If it isn't have a chat with your boss about reducing your workload.
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