We live in a culture that glorifies the individual, so is it any wonder that success or failure at work is a pressure that many find hard to bear? On God Forbid, James Carleton and the panel explore our relationship to work, the symptoms of being overworked, and how our job can affect our sense of identity.
In this episode:
Even before the pandemic, Australians were working 3.2 billion hours of unpaid overtime a year. But COVID-19 has since disrupted our workflows, leaving many of us without any work at all. Meanwhile, other key sectors are experiencing massively increased workloads.
Reports of burnout in the workplace have made headlines recently, and our health professionals and frontline workers are currently one of the most susceptible groups. So what exactly, is burnout and how do you identify it?
The Christian existentialist philosopher Soren Kierkegaard wrote, "The deepest form of despair is to choose to be another than oneself." Can work, or our accomplishments, become a kind of mask we hide behind?
More Information
Hear Associate Professor of Sociology Leah Ruppanner speak to Hiliary Harper on RN's Life Matters: Talkback: the busy addiction
Listen to Professor Michael Leiter and UX designer Marie Cecile Godwin speak with Lisa Leong on RN's This Working Life: 'I was stuck in my bed – all I could do is cry.' Is COVID making you burn out at work?
Hear psychologist and social researcher Hugh Mackay in conversation with Meredith Lake on RN's Soul Search: The Bigger Picture: Hugh Mackay and Nyadol Nyuon on the inner self
Guests:
Dr Grant Bickerton is a practising clinical psychologist and researcher with expertise in work stress and burnout. He’s also Leader of Missionary Development and Well Being at Power to Change Australia.
Dr Justine Toh is Senior Research fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity. Her latest book is "Re-Considering Achievement Addiction." Justine has a PhD in cultural studies and her articles have appeared in various media outlets including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Spectator, and ABC News.
Presenter:
James Carleton
Producers:
Rohan Salmond / Hong Jiang