The Overwhelming Work Culture

COVID 19 has created new norms of many kinds. And one of it is the need to work from home. While it seems to be a good thing at first, there are reports that workers are in fact suffering from burn-outs. It could be for many reasons. One could be not having a conducive work environment at home, or insecure bosses micromanaging you as they couldn’t see you physically now. They demand updates every now and then and it makes work unproductive. Or because of the pressure to keep the company afloat in these times, companies are given over to a frenzy work culture where every worker is demanded to double their productivity.

Now, as with human nature, we are no good with handling fears and insecurities. With that, we are unnecessarily pressurized and we create undue pressure to those around us. I’ve heard people working in certain industries having to work 12-15 hours a day, and those never-ending work demands are starting to affect their mental health. In a COVID work culture, work life balance doesn’t seem to take any priorities. And people who fear losing their job just have to hold on to it despite the intense work pressure. Some say it’s an employers’ market now. The underlying perception seems to be “If you want your job, you just gotta work harder”.

So that prompts the question: “Should Christians accept this kind of work culture readily?”

I mean after all, the Bible teaches us to serve our earthly masters whole-heartedly as if serving the Lord <Ephesians 6:7>. So some Christians who are suffering a burnout from work, they find no comfort. They’ve to helplessly accept those work culture, and in the midst of that neglect their families, their church life, and their mental health spiral down.

Now, my dear brethren, let’s not take the Word of God simplistically. Just as the Bible commanded us to serve our earthly master whole-heartedly, it also tells us that our body is the temple of God. If our mental and emotional health is suffering, can we justify that with serving our company wholeheartedly? And with our current state of mind affected because of unreasonable work demands, can we actually serve our earthly master wholeheartedly? Or are we being just “slave drive”? Are we being prompted by fear of not performing, getting a bad report card, or even losing our job in this pandemic work culture? Or are we prompted by obedience to the Lord in working so hard?

Now of course, I am working doubly hard during these pandemic times because we are running multiple services in church because of restricted numbers in gathering. Our coworkers are doing so as well. Yet, we’re not burn out, why? Because we saw the need to preach more, to engage more, to shepherd more, especially when we saw the sheep of God are suffering from fear, insecurity and fatigue during these times. There is a reason to do so, and that prompts us to put in our 120%. I believe the church is given the power of the Holy Spirit in times like this such that our stepping up in Word and Shepherding ministries could act as safeguards for the sheep of God.

Yet, when I saw some of my brethren are almost suffering a burn out at work, I question why we are letting ourselves be enslaved by those work culture. Now, let’s not think work in church and in the secular world is a different thing. To a certain extent, it could be different. But just as we’re called to work in the church, we’re also called to work in the secular world. We don’t want to be slipshod in our secular job, yet if we find that we’re prompted by fear instead of conviction at work, then we need to take a proactive step to rescue ourselves from a bad working culture. If not, our mental health will suffer, our family will suffer too. Now, here’s some advice from the Word of God. How do you manage this?

First, ask for Wisdom. Now, <James 1:5> tells us: If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Now, dealing with a bad system or a bad culture can only be done through the Spirit, and the wisdom given by Him. It cannot be done through flesh. If you’re just going to deal with an overwhelming work demands with frustration and just calling it quits, you are going to end up on the losing side. But it’s good to make good discernment and not let yourselves be manipulated unnecessarily at work. Sometimes, be wise to do the most important thing, not everything. Sometimes, you need not make yourself so readily available, answering every messages and emails by your superior. You must be wise and bold to show him your threshold. You need not fear losing your credibility, but just be responsible and professional in the task given you, such that you are ready to give an explanation when being questioned about work issues. Now, I will leave you to pray through for wisdom in your situation.

Second, deal with your boss with gentleness.

<Proverbs 15:1>: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Now, even though work demands are unreasonable, you have to understand the principle of authority, i.e. you are not above your superior. There are due respect you have to give him. And especially when everyone is in a frenzy work culture where everyone is so intense, one essential element that is always missing is gentleness. Don’t take harsh words or demands personally, but learn from the Lord, be gentle. Gentleness calms people down and win over people’s heart.

Lastly, do not be a perfectionist, but be led by the spirit.

<Galatians 5:18> says: If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now, we know Paul was talking about the law of God here, and he was dealing with a legalistic belief. But allow me some application of insights here. Now, sometimes, we being a perfectionist can work against us like a law. Your perfectionism can be like a binding law to your heart such as it stiffens or constrains you. Now, if you are a perfectionist and felt obligated to fulfill every call, every demand, every deadline imposed by your superior, you will suffer. Sometimes, you must know there are instructions by men that are not “hard and fast” rule. And not every situation is a “life and death” one. So you must be led by the spirit when you’re dealing with overwhelming work demands. Learn to put down your ideals. Sometimes, you may not need to get everything done in a single day also. Things change. Decisions change. So learn to be led by the spirit. Start your day praying for wisdom, gentleness, perseverance, resolution and self-control instead of being caught in a flurry of activity at work.

Now my dear brethren, when the working world is in a frenzy, be still before the Lord.