Workaholics Anonymous is a support group for individuals who struggle with work addiction. Similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, it provides a judgement-free space for people to openly discuss their struggles and work towards recovery. The group consists of 20 members who meet weekly on Zoom, including individuals from different time zones across the UK. The BBC was granted permission to join one of their meetings.

During the meeting, members share their experiences and emotions related to workaholism. One woman expresses her shame and emotional turmoil as she fights against the urge to work even after putting her young son to bed. Another woman admits to using excessive work talk as a way to hide her insecurities during a dinner with her partner’s family. Both women feel trapped by their work addiction and long for a life beyond work.

Caroline Walker, who is writing a book about her recovery, distinguishes between overworking and work addiction. She believes workaholics are aware that their behavior is harmful and out of control, leading to feelings of shame and a desire to hide their addiction. Workaholics often use work as a means to avoid difficult emotions such as low self-esteem.

Playwright James Graham, who struggled with workaholism, attributes his addiction to deriving all his self-esteem and happiness from work. He admits that this pattern of behavior hindered his ability to form intimate relationships. Work addiction is not recognized as a medical condition in the UK, which means it often goes unnoticed until individuals experience burnout or physical health issues.

According to life coach Nick Hatter, work addiction is often driven by fear of not having enough or not being enough. Financial insecurity can also contribute to the urge to work excessively. Lee Fernandes, a lead therapist, warns employers about the dangers of allowing employees to overwork, as it can lead to burnout. Work addiction can manifest differently in men and women, with women potentially not spending as much time in the office but still constantly working.

Workaholics Anonymous has close to 20 weekly meetings in the UK, attracting members of all ages. While recovery is a lifelong process, the group provides a supportive community for individuals to disentangle their identity from their job and learn that they are more than just their work.

Original news source: Workaholics Anonymous: ‘I couldn’t step away from the computer’ (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary

Instructions: Divide the students into pairs or small groups. Provide each group with a copy of the article. Instruct them to read the article and work together to create a concise summary of the main points. After they have finished, have each group share their summary with the class.

– Opinion Poll

Instructions: Divide the students into pairs or small groups. Provide each group with a list of discussion questions related to the article. Instruct them to take turns asking and answering the questions, and encourage them to give detailed explanations for their answers. After they have finished, have each group share some of their responses with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary

Instructions: Write a list of key vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the students into pairs or small groups. Instruct them to take turns selecting a word from the list and drawing a picture that represents the word. The other members of the group must then try to guess the word based on the drawing. Encourage the students to use the words in sentences or provide definitions after the word has been guessed.

– Pros and Cons

Instructions: Divide the students into pairs or small groups. Instruct them to discuss the pros and cons of workaholism based on the information in the article. Encourage them to consider both the positive and negative aspects of being a workaholic. After they have finished, have each group share their thoughts with the class and facilitate a class discussion on the topic.

– Future Predictions

Instructions: Instruct the students to imagine that they are members of Workaholics Anonymous and that they are attending a meeting in the future. Ask them to write a short speech or reflection on their journey to recovery and what their life looks like now. Encourage them to use vocabulary and concepts from the article to support their predictions. After they have finished, give the students an opportunity to share their reflections with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. How does Workaholics Anonymous provide support for individuals struggling with work addiction?
2. What are some examples of the struggles and emotions that members of Workaholics Anonymous share during their meetings?
3. What is the difference between overworking and work addiction, according to Caroline Walker?
4. How does work addiction affect an individual’s ability to form intimate relationships, according to playwright James Graham?
5. Why is work addiction often unnoticed until individuals experience burnout or physical health issues?
6. What are some driving factors behind work addiction, according to life coach Nick Hatter?
7. What is the potential danger of allowing employees to overwork, according to lead therapist Lee Fernandes?
8. What is the purpose of Workaholics Anonymous and how does it help individuals in their recovery process?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Workaholics Anonymous is a support group for individuals who struggle with work addiction. Similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, it provides a judgement-free space for people to openly discuss their struggles and work towards recovery. The group consists of 20 members who meet weekly on Zoom, (1)______ individuals from different time zones across the UK. The BBC was granted (2)______ to join one of their meetings.

During the meeting, members (3)______ their experiences and emotions related to workaholism. One (4)______ expresses her shame and emotional turmoil as she fights against the urge to work even after putting her young son to bed. Another woman (5)______ to using excessive work talk as a way to hide her insecurities during a dinner with her partner’s family. Both women feel trapped by their work addiction and long for a life beyond work.

Caroline Walker, who is writing a book about her recovery, distinguishes between overworking and work addiction. She believes (6)______ are aware that their behavior is harmful and out of control, leading to feelings of shame and a desire to hide their addiction. Workaholics often use work as a (7)______ to (8)______ difficult emotions such as low self-esteem.

Playwright James Graham, who struggled with workaholism, attributes his (9)______ to deriving all his self-esteem and happiness from work. He admits that this pattern of behavior hindered his (10)______ to form intimate relationships. Work addiction is not recognized as a medical condition in the UK, which means it often goes unnoticed until individuals experience burnout or physical health issues.

According to life coach Nick Hatter, work addiction is often driven by fear of not having (11)______ or not being enough. (12)______ insecurity can also contribute to the urge to work excessively. Lee Fernandes, a lead therapist, (13)______ employers about the (14)______ of allowing employees to overwork, as it can lead to burnout. Work addiction can manifest differently in men and women, with women potentially not (15)______ as much time in the office but still constantly working.

Workaholics Anonymous has close to 20 weekly meetings in the UK, attracting members of all ages. While recovery is a lifelong process, the group (16)______ a supportive community for individuals to disentangle their identity from their job and learn that they are more than just their work.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is work addiction and how does it differ from simply overworking?
2. How would you feel if you were a workaholic and constantly felt the need to work, even outside of normal working hours?
3. Do you think work addiction is a recognized medical condition in your country? Why or why not?
4. How do you think work addiction can impact personal relationships?
5. What strategies do you think could be effective in overcoming work addiction?
6. Why do you think some people turn to work as a way to avoid difficult emotions?
7. Do you think financial insecurity can contribute to work addiction? Why or why not?
8. How do you think work addiction can lead to burnout?
9. Do you think men and women experience work addiction differently? Why or why not?
10. How would you feel if you were constantly working, even if you weren’t physically in the office?
11. Do you think work addiction is more common in certain professions? Why or why not?
12. How do you think being a workaholic could impact your mental health?
13. What strategies do you think employers can implement to prevent work addiction among their employees?
14. Why do you think recovery from work addiction is described as a lifelong process?
15. How would you feel if you were able to disentangle your identity from your job and realize you are more than just your work? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. workaholism
2. recovery
3. shame
4. addiction
5. self-esteem
6. burnout
7. disentangle
8. excessive
9. emotional
10. intimate
11. unnoticed
12. financial
13. supportive
14. identity
15. community

Meanings:
(A) A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common
(B) The fact of being who or what a person is
(C) Providing encouragement or emotional help
(D) Pertaining to money or how money is managed
(E) More than is necessary, normal, or desirable; immoderate
(F) Failing to attract attention; not noticed
(G) A state of physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress
(H) Free or release from entanglement; separate
(I) Pertaining to a person’s feelings or emotions
(J) The process of returning to a normal state of health, mind, or strength
(K) The state of being physically or psychologically dependent on a substance or activity
(L) A painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior
(M) The condition of being compulsively occupied with or involved in work
(N) Relating to very close and familiar relationships
(O) Confidence in one’s own worth or abilities; self-respect
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is Workaholics Anonymous?
(a) A group that promotes excessive work habits
(b) A therapy program for people with low self-esteem
(c) A support group for individuals struggling with work addiction
(d) A club for people who enjoy working long hours

2. How often do members of Workaholics Anonymous meet?
(a) Weekly
(b) Monthly
(c) Daily
(d) Yearly

3. What is one example of a struggle shared by members during the meeting?
(a) Feeling shame for not working enough
(b) Using work talk to impress others
(c) Enjoying work too much
(d) Hiding their addiction from their families

4. How does Caroline Walker differentiate between overworking and work addiction?
(a) Overworking is a medical condition, while work addiction is not
(b) Overworking is driven by fear, while work addiction is driven by financial insecurity
(c) Workaholics work longer hours than overworkers
(d) Workaholics are aware that their behavior is harmful and out of control

5. Why does James Graham believe he became a workaholic?
(a) He had a fear of not having enough money
(b) He wanted to impress his partner’s family
(c) He had low self-esteem and used work to avoid difficult emotions
(d) He derived all his self-esteem and happiness from work

6. Is work addiction recognized as a medical condition in the UK?
(a) Yes
(b) Only for men
(c) No
(d) Only for women

7. What is one reason why work addiction can be driven by fear?
(a) Fear of losing one’s job
(b) Fear of not having enough or not being enough
(c) Fear of being judged by others
(d) Fear of failure

8. What is the purpose of Workaholics Anonymous?
(a) To promote excessive work habits
(b) To provide a supportive community for individuals struggling with work addiction
(c) To help people find their identity through their job
(d) To teach people how to work longer hours

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Workaholics Anonymous offers a helpful network for individuals to detach their identity from their job.
2. Work addiction is not recognized as a medical condition in the UK.
3. The team includes 20 participants who gather weekly on Zoom.
4. Throughout the session, members openly share their encounters and feelings associated with workaholism.
5. The BBC was given permission to join one of the group’s meetings.
6. Workaholics frequently use work as a way to confront challenging emotions like low self-esteem.
7. The group includes individuals from different time zones across the UK.
8. Workaholics Anonymous is a support group for individuals struggling with work addiction.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is the purpose of Workaholics Anonymous?
2. How do the members of Workaholics Anonymous support each other?
3. What are some examples of the struggles that members of Workaholics Anonymous face?
4. What is the difference between overworking and work addiction, according to Caroline Walker?
5. How does work addiction affect relationships and personal well-being?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Workaholics Anonymous provides support for individuals struggling with work addiction by offering a judgement-free space for them to openly discuss their struggles and work towards recovery.
2. Some examples of the struggles and emotions that members of Workaholics Anonymous share during their meetings include feelings of shame, emotional turmoil, the urge to work even after putting their children to bed, and using excessive work talk as a way to hide insecurities.
3. According to Caroline Walker, overworking is simply working too much, while work addiction involves harmful and out-of-control behavior that leads to feelings of shame and a desire to hide the addiction.
4. According to playwright James Graham, work addiction hinders an individual’s ability to form intimate relationships because they derive all their self-esteem and happiness from work, leaving little emotional energy for personal connections.
5. Work addiction is often unnoticed until individuals experience burnout or physical health issues because it is not recognized as a medical condition in the UK, leading to a lack of awareness and intervention.
6. According to life coach Nick Hatter, driving factors behind work addiction include fear of not having enough or not being enough, as well as financial insecurity.
7. The potential danger of allowing employees to overwork, according to lead therapist Lee Fernandes, is that it can lead to burnout, which can have negative impacts on an individual’s mental and physical health.
8. The purpose of Workaholics Anonymous is to provide a supportive community for individuals to disentangle their identity from their job and learn that they are more than just their work. It helps individuals in their recovery process by offering a judgement-free space for them to share their experiences and emotions, as well as providing support and encouragement from others who understand their struggles.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) including
(2) permission
(3) share
(4) woman
(5) admits
(6) workaholics
(7) means
(8) avoid
(9) addiction
(10) ability
(11) enough
(12) Financial
(13) warns
(14) dangers
(15) spending
(16) provides
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. workaholism
Answer: (M) The condition of being compulsively occupied with or involved in work

2. recovery
Answer: (J) The process of returning to a normal state of health, mind, or strength

3. shame
Answer: (L) A painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior

4. addiction
Answer: (K) The state of being physically or psychologically dependent on a substance or activity

5. self-esteem
Answer: (O) Confidence in one’s own worth or abilities; self-respect

6. burnout
Answer: (G) A state of physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress

7. disentangle
Answer: (H) Free or release from entanglement; separate

8. excessive
Answer: (E) More than is necessary, normal, or desirable; immoderate

9. emotional
Answer: (I) Pertaining to a person’s feelings or emotions

10. intimate
Answer: (N) Relating to very close and familiar relationships

11. unnoticed
Answer: (F) Failing to attract attention; not noticed

12. financial
Answer: (D) Pertaining to money or how money is managed

13. supportive
Answer: (C) Providing encouragement or emotional help

14. identity
Answer: (B) The fact of being who or what a person is

15. community
Answer: (A) A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is Workaholics Anonymous?
Answer: (c) A support group for individuals struggling with work addiction

2. How often do members of Workaholics Anonymous meet?
Answer: (a) Weekly

3. What is one example of a struggle shared by members during the meeting?
Answer: (a) Feeling shame for not working enough

4. How does Caroline Walker differentiate between overworking and work addiction?
Answer: (d) Workaholics are aware that their behavior is harmful and out of control

5. Why does James Graham believe he became a workaholic?
Answer: (d) He derived all his self-esteem and happiness from work

6. Is work addiction recognized as a medical condition in the UK?
Answer: (c) No

7. What is one reason why work addiction can be driven by fear?
Answer: (b) Fear of not having enough or not being enough

8. What is the purpose of Workaholics Anonymous?
Answer: (b) To provide a supportive community for individuals struggling with work addiction
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Workaholics Anonymous offers a helpful network for individuals to detach their identity from their job. (Answer: False)
2. Work addiction is not recognized as a medical condition in the UK. (Answer: True)
3. The team includes 20 participants who gather weekly on Zoom. (Answer: False)
4. Throughout the session, members openly share their encounters and feelings associated with workaholism. (Answer: False)
5. The BBC was given permission to join one of the group’s meetings. (Answer: True)
6. Workaholics frequently use work as a way to confront challenging emotions like low self-esteem. (Answer: False)
7. The group includes individuals from different time zones across the UK. (Answer: True)
8. Workaholics Anonymous is a support group for individuals struggling with work addiction. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧