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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 8, No. 5
Publication Date: May 25, 2021
DOI:10.14738/assrj.85.10179.
Deciu, V. (2021). Compulsive behaviors in the workplace. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(5). 119-128.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Compulsive behaviors in the workplace
Valeriu Deciu
University Alexandru Ioan Cuza, Iasi, Romania
ABSTRACT
Compulsive behaviors are psychiatric challenges that interfere with the regular life
practices of those who exhibit them. This study qualitatively identified compulsive
behaviors within three organizations located in no.2 major cities from Romania,
aiming to explore their effects on workers' productivity and extended community,
including coworkers and employers. To understand the exact behaviors, a
literature search was done from Google Scholar to understand examples of
compulsive behaviors in the workplace before gathering data from the participants.
Using three organizations, from construction materials and adjacent industries, 15
participants were selected and agreed to be interviewed. Further, a survey
questionnaire was used to explore the severity and effect of the behaviors on
productivity at work. The main results noted workplace compulsive behaviors like
repetitive cleanliness, ritualistic behaviors like repetitive ordering or organizing
things in a particular manner, persistent repetition of certain words or actions for
the perfection of the work assigned, and isolation from other members. The findings
from the results entailed an understanding that most compulsive behaviors conflict
with established workplace code of conduct. Also, employees confirmed their
continued struggle to control the exhibited behaviors. The effects of the behaviors
on the employees' productivity and time management were also highlighted.
Importantly, most participants confirmed that most employers and coworkers
understand their situations and provide social support.
Keywords: Compulsive, Behavior, Repetitiveness, Perfectionism, Obsessiveness.
INTRODUCTION
Most people attempt to attain their goals by remaining consistent and perfect in every activity
they engage in. While the activities are essential since they drive the established goals or vision,
most people knowingly indulge in other unrelated repetitive acts that are uncontrollable and
do not align with the set goals. In most normal life situations, one finds themselves engaging in
activities like checking the door repetitively to confirm if it’s locked despite being sure that the
door is closed. In other scenarios, one obsessively wonders whether they turned the stove off,
hence repetitively checks to ensure it is off even when they are sure that the stove is off. In the
workplace, one might engage in a repetitive action like cleaning of a surface even when they
know that the surface is already clean, making them unable to attend to other duties on time.
Such behaviors are known as compulsive behaviors since they exist as daily rituals
characterized by an overwhelming urge to be completed. According to Denys [4], compulsive
behavior occurs when someone engages in a repetitive action that does not provide reward or
relief but repeats it to satisfy particular obsessions. For instance, in a workplace, an employee
can repetitively countercheck the assigned work to ensure it is done to the expected standards
even when they are sure that the work is done well. As one acts repetitively with the wish to
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stop the behavior, negative effects are triggered since interpersonal conflicts are created, and
the mental health is affected as one tries to control or stop them. As noted in the figure below,
once one is preoccupied with compulsive behavior, they struggle to stop with little success.
Everyday activities associated with compulsion entail shopping, gambling, eating, cleaning, and
hoarding. One major characteristic of these behaviors is that despite being done repetitively,
one performs them with an understanding that they are not in line with the overall goal being
pursued, but they develop no control over them. Hence, in most cases, the behavior is unwanted
and dysfunctional as it results in negative outcomes [2]. As one engages in compulsive behavior,
anxiety is created by obsessive thoughts, ideas, and images, making them unable to stop
thinking about them. Hence, compulsions are behaviors engaged in to control the developed
obsessive thoughts.
ELEMENTS OF COMPULSIVE BEHAVIORS
Phenomenological elements
Denys [4] defined compulsive behavior based on four phenomenological elements: inability to
stop performing the act, feeling that one must perform the particular act, lost control, and
finally, the unpleasantness of the repetitive acts. Analysis of Denys’s findings proves that
compulsive behaviors are characterized by a lack of control over the behavior that one indulges
in. The feeling that the engaged behavior cannot be stopped or evaded further indicates that it
diverges or goes contrary to the voluntary control. As Koob maintains, an addiction gets
compulsive when the performance of the behavior is not motivated by an uncontrollable force
within oneself [10]. Therefore, compulsive behavior in this context implies that one engages in
an internal struggle since they are pushed by the feeling of not eliciting the behavior
irrespective of the will. As Figee and others hold, one is compelled by an irresistible urge to act
since the loss of control functions during such periods [5]. However, since one behaves out of
their control and perspective, then a compulsive behavior has negative consequences. This
means that, since compulsive behaviors bring about negative effects, such as not completing
the assigned duty at the workplace to attend to a home duty, conflicts with the established goals
and responsibilities. Hence, a divergence between volition and behavior from the outsiders’
perspective occurs since the employee’s behavior brings negative results as the behavior
generates no valuable outcome. Additionally, it is critical to understand that the repetitive
nature of the behavior signifies its persisting trend and the necessity of its examination due to
the effects caused.
Observational Elements
Compulsive behavior is understood from the perspective of four broader observational
elements. The first element includes the fact that compulsive behavior is done repetitively, and
secondly, the behavior is inappropriate or non-adaptive to the context in which it occurs. The
third and fourth observational elements about compulsive behavior are that it results in
functional impairment, and finally, it is done in a stereotyped manner. The elements prove that
compulsive behaviors are inappropriate within the context they occur [7]. In workplaces,
employees are the most affected by the compulsive behavior since it bars them from
concentrating or being productive. Similarly, the employee’s attention to the assigned duties
gets distracted by the behavior elicited, challenging their ability to fulfill the established goals.
Nevertheless, the emphasis that the behavior is done in a stereotyped or habitual manner
indicates that compulsive behaviors occur in fixed ways that cannot be easily controlled.
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Explanatory Elements
Fineberg et al. [6] argue that compulsive behavior occurs due to the perceived consequences
attributed to them. A compulsive behavior like frequent washing of a working surface is done
by the actor to prevent contamination. Hence, by engaging in such a frequent activity, the actor
aims at evading negative consequences associated with a lack of engagement in the act though
fails to attend to other activities. In other cases, an external actor's act is perceived as
inappropriate since the surface might appear clean. Besides, the other explanatory element is
that the actor engages in the behavior to reduce the negative effects of failing to do it like
anxiety. In this case, adverse outcomes can entail feelings or a state of discomfort. As earlier
explained, compulsive behavior is characterized by an inability to control one’s will. Hence,
failing to engage in compulsive behavior means conflicting with the will that directs the
behavior, thus discomfort of not doing it arises.
Common Compulsive Behaviors in the Workplace
One of the compulsive behaviors noted in the workplace is isolation from other people. Since a
compulsive behavior is associated with the feeling of insecurity or fear that failing to do
something will elicit a negative consequence, being around people can be interpreted as an
activity that can bring undesired effects like being beaten or hurt physically or emotionally.
Hence, as an employee with intrusive thoughts gets closer to others, they isolate themselves. In
most cases, they opt for phones when they are in meetings or group discussions or walk from
meetings without seeking permission. The other example of a compulsive behavior at the
workplace is ruminating. Ruminating is an instance where an employee is often disturbed by
past scenarios or thoughts in their head. As they contemplate, their concentration on the
assigned work is delayed causing them to miss deadlines or underperform in their duty.
Some employees are disturbed by the cleanliness issue in the workplace. To them, continuous
cleanliness of the working surface is healthy and helps to avoid diseases. Therefore, they work
by cleaning their working surfaces regularly, even when other employees feel that the surface
is clean. Hence, at the workplace, employees with regular cleaning behaviors are unable to
share a workspace with others because of the contamination fears which trigger panic and
anxiety. Employees who fail to act upon such behaviors make the employee quit the job or
increases working anxieties and panic to them. Other employees are faced with ritualistic
compulsive behaviors that entail constant checkups of particular things at work to ensure they
are in order. For instance, an employee working as an auditor does a regular checkup of the
balanced statements and financial records to ensure that they are updated and in order. They
are carried away by the fear of accountability or transparency, though they forget to attend to
other projects.
Nevertheless, employees affected by the tendency to arrange objects in the workplace at a
certain order influence a particular working pattern to other employees, which conflicts with
the working environment. Such an employee feels that arranging the objects in a specific way
brings about confusion or is not making the workplace presentable, hence resorting to their
arrangement plan. Other employees are affected by the tendency to repeat particular actions
or words at the workplace that conflicts with the laid code of ethics or professionalism.
Attempts by the manager to control the behavior often fail to materialize because of the
conditioned tendency of the compulsive behavior and the perceived consequences of not
repeating the words or acting in a particular way.
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The explained compulsive behaviors affect the performance of the assigned duties, extending
to the coworkers, employers, and organizational goals. The continued occurrence of the
behaviors often causes a misunderstanding between the employee and the employer as well as
the coworkers slowing the progress and productivity of the employee and the working
relationship with the affected groups. In instances where the employer and the coworkers show
a lack of cooperation with the affected employee, the affected group becomes demotivated or
puts things off and struggles in silence since they fear the continued negative opinions or
disapproval. Employees from three organizations within Romania were interviewed to assess
the compulsive behaviors they exhibit and how their workplaces are affected by them. A further
understanding of how the behaviors are exhibited at work and how they affect their daily
routines at the workplace was examined.
METHODS AND PROCEDURE
Methods
Research Design
An exploratory qualitative design was used to gather data from individuals affected or suffering
from a compulsive behavior using qualitative data collection techniques. Semi-structured
interviews were carried out to people to assess the effect and extent of the influence of
compulsive behaviors.
Sample
Three organizations were used by this study to recruit the participants. The organizations
varied in terms of their operations even if all belong to the construction materials industry. The
three firms are based in Romania and have a reputable history of performance. To find a sample
for this study, the researcher used managers of the mentioned companies who provided names
and access to employees with compulsive behaviors. After meeting and discussing with every
employee over the concern of the study, 15 employees agreed to the terms, and they were
selected. All participants were above 18-years and had a sound mind. Also, a treatment-seeking
history related to any compulsive related disorders or compulsive behavior was considered.
Nevertheless, the exclusion criteria entailed employees with mental disorders. Hence, the final
category of the participants selected entailed 78% of the selected group were married and
males, respectively. The participants’ age range was 20-50. Everyone from the group was
educated with the highest group having a master’s degree qualification.
Procedure
Since the participants were recruited from the company’s database as provided by the
managers, no attempts were made on recruitment based on socioeconomic status or gender.
The employees' recruitment to the study continued until saturation of data was done [8]. Face- to-face semi-structured interviews were applied to participants who had responded to the sent
emails confirming their interest in the study. Interviews were carried out in the facilities
provided by the companies because of convenience. The themes covered entailed the
employee’s daily experience with the compulsive behavior, coping strategies used to mitigate
or contain the issue, relationship with other workers and employers, how the behavior alters
personal and organizational productivity or goal-attainment.
Before the start of the interview sessions, the participants completed the Florida Obsessive- Compulsive Inventory questionnaire. The questionnaire helped to measure the severity of the
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URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.85.10179
compulsive behavior identified in the employees. Score categories assigned upon completion
and assessment of the questionnaires included mild, extreme, moderate, and severe. The
severity scale was instrumental to the study since it provided an understanding of the
employees' profile to the identified behavior. Employers could use such information for
guidance or therapy intervention purposes. To ensure trustworthiness, responses provided by
participants were clarified for meaning.
Data Analysis
Interview sessions were recorded using digital tools after the participants agreed to the
process. The records were thematically analyzed to understand the sub-themes that
characterize compulsive behaviors in the workplace. A qualitative data analysis approach was
used to analyze the transcripts. The approach started with familiarizing with the collected data
before coding the data extracts to obtain the code list. The third approach allowed researchers
to refine the codes before generating the themes. Every theme was then reviewed, as obtained
in the third step. The fifth approach entailed refining, allocating, and describing every label to
every theme. The final step entailed the presentation of results [8]. Nevertheless, this study
employed qualitative research because qualitative studies either generate themes inductively
based on the data collected, deductively as obtained from the theoretical framework, or by
using data extracted from two methodological methods [15]. Based on such understanding, this
study used two methods, questionnaires, and interviews.
RESULTS
As mentioned earlier, 15 employees from three organizations in Romania, were interviewed.
The interviewed participants had a mean age of 42.2 years. They all reported compulsive
behaviors that disturbed them at the workplace. The majority of the participants interviewed,
and those who filled the questionnaire were married and lived with children and or other
adults. All of them had graduated from high-schools and universities and were employed part- time and full-time. The salary scale of the participants was EUR 500-EUR 1,500 monthly. 75%
of the employers to the interviewed participants reported a compulsive behavior to the
employees. This provided a better framework for understanding the intensity of the behavior
and how it affects the wellbeing of the participant, how it manifests in the workplace, and the
effect caused at work.
Analysis of themes of compulsive behavior in the workplace
The major theme, "Compulsive behaviors in the workplace," guided the understanding of the
participants’ experiences in their respective workplaces. The theme portrays the history of the
participant with the compulsive behavior in their normal life routine to their workplaces.
Hence, the exploration of sub-themes centered on the specific compulsive behaviors and their
effects in the workplace as experienced by the employees.
Subtheme 1.1: Persistent repetition of particular words and actions that conflict
professional code
Participants recounted an experience with a compulsive behavior related to excessive
repetition of particular actions and words that are not in line with the established code of
conduct at the workplace, causing a misunderstanding with the managers. Two participants
considered their behaviors and thoughts as being carried off from the normal work routines
and expectations, causing a disturbance to the workplace routine. One participant, I. C.,
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reported that once she completed her studies with commerce major, she got a job at the
construction materials company in Romania and had a great time during the first year. She
tackled challenging projects that quickly earned her recognition from the employer, causing the
organization to recognize her as one of the promising employees. Nevertheless, she has worried
because of the inability to control the negative thoughts that invade her mind. At first, no one
at the workplace realized her issue, but with time, it manifested as she got it hard completing
the assigned projects on time and with perfection. Her major compulsive behavior entailed
random negative thoughts that commanded her to reread every work she was working on, over
and over until she realized that everything was right. This could take two to three days, even
when she knew that the work was perfect and could proceed to the next stage. Her lateness in
submitting the assigned orders cause her stress as she has had a lot of work on her desk
unattended. She held that “It is like an obsessive thought that I must handle the assigned work
again and again until everything is right. It never seems perfect work”. Upon reaching her
manager, he confirmed that I.C.’s repetitive reading rituals have caused the finance department
to lag in several projects. Despite issuing several warnings to her, the behavior had worsened.
Another participant, Daniel (pseudonym) noted:
“The repetitive acts of reading and doing similar things over and over seem
ridiculous to many as they are in themselves. To me, they are tormenting
cogitations that I struggle with everyday controlling and eradicating."
Sub-Theme 2 Isolation from others
In this case, J. D., one of the interviewed participants, remarked her lack of interactive behavior
at the workplace with other peers. At the company, she receives customer reviews before
forwarding them to the respective management unit for action. Her compulsive behavior at the
workplace is isolated from others due to intrusive thoughts that she develops regarding the
members of staff. In the interview, she held that "I frequently walk out of meetings even without
permission over the fear that something bad might happen to me or a coworker might say or
do something bad to me." In most cases where the management is strict, and everyone must be
present at the meeting until the discussions are over, J.D. argued that she is constantly on her
phone as a way of evading being part of the meeting. In an attempt to understand the rationale
or the evolution of the behavior, J.D. held that intrusive thoughts often frequent her mind that
being close to people or sharing as a group is bad since people have negative thoughts and
intentions about her. The behavior has affected her work since she misses most of the
information communicated during meetings and seminars requiring an urgent call for duty.
Sub-theme 3: Precise ordering and arranging things
Compulsive behaviors are hard to control even when one knows that they are excessive, and no
pleasure is driven from them. In the workplace, engaging in repetitive behaviors makes most
of the employees are different since their acts conflict with what others do and believe. In an
interview with Maria, she recounted her compulsive behavior that involved acts of perfection
in how she wanted her working space and what other employees' work surfaces ought to be.
She has been employed for two years, but her ordering and organizing behaviors affect most of
the coworkers who feel that her behavior contradicts with their organization of working
surfaces. While explaining her behavior, Maria noted: “I feel that the working space is not
arranged as per the expectation and I arrange it over and over again, mostly after one hour even
when nobody has disassembled the arrangement." Maria held that the behavior had caused her
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so much stress since she concentrates more on arranging and ordering the working space,
including that of other coworkers. Poor working relationships have also been created from the
behavior as other workers feel that the frequent organization of the office hampers with their
appropriate order. Nevertheless, Maria affirmed that she began understanding the negative
influence of the behavior once most of the clients stop from contacting her directly, and the
coworkers complained of her unending organization habits.
Sub-theme 4: Cleanliness Perfection at the workplace
Cleaning compulsion is another form of behavior that often distracts employees from delivering
expected quality work or adhering to the stipulated standards. I.R. is a 28-year-old from
Bucharest who suffers from contamination fears behaviors at his workplace. He has been
employed for three years with daily duties that include managing cash register, ordering stock,
and making sales. Despite being given enough time to complete the assigned duties at work, I.R.
hardly completes them on time because of the compulsive cleanliness ritual at the workplace.
He repetitively cleans the working space, arguing that the place is contaminated and not safe to
other employees. The behavior has caused distress at the workplace since I.R. is unable to share
the available working space with other employees as demanded by the management. I.R. fears
being contaminated with germs and viruses that he constantly claims are in the dirty place
despite others perceiving the place to be clean. In confirming the behavior, I.R. argued, "I
repetitively wash my hands to the points where they get cracked, bleed and dry for a
considerable time. Further, I spend more time scrubbing the desk or even resist shaking hands
with people for fear of contracting germs". I.R.'s manager confirmed over the phone that the
compulsive behavior contradicts the company's culture that dictates that shaking hands is an
ethical standard and allowing other workers and customers to use the working surfaces at any
time without interference is healthy. "The management has received several claims about the
unwelcoming trait of I.R. over his cleanliness behavior. Most customers have threatened to
terminate their partnership with the company because of delayed responses from I.R., who is
unable to handle urgent clearances and orders while cleaning surfaces that he thinks are often
contaminated”. The behavior is, therefore, a hindrance to the better working relationships
between employees, coworkers, and their management. Nevertheless, I.R. confirmed that the
management has been tolerant of the behavior and has provided him enough time to adapt and
change.
DISCUSSION
This study qualitatively explored compulsive behaviors in the workplace to understand how
they manifest and affect the performance and coping aspects of the affected together with
employers and coworkers. The study assessed the compulsive behaviors of workers from three
organizations in Romania. The findings provide a look at the impact of the behaviors on the
attendance to the assigned duties and how their impacts on the performance, productivity, and
relationship with coworkers and employers. Further, the findings provide an overview of how
the participants struggle to mitigate the effects of the behaviors on their work-life. The study
forms part of the qualitative literature that explored the impacts of obsessive-compulsive
disorder using exploratory frameworks to develop a better understanding of the signs and
effects exhibited by persons suffering from the disorder. Knapton argues in her research paper
that most studies on the obsessive-compulsive behaviors are quantitative since they derive
their findings from pre-defined judgments of the participants instead of unrestricted and
extended descriptions [9]. This proves that the analysis of compulsive behaviors, as carried out
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in this study, needs to be qualitative to provide a contrasting and consistent account of
experiences exhibited by the participants from their experience.
In a quest to understand the historical account of the compulsive behavior among employees,
the findings proved that the affected perceived the compulsive behavioral symptoms as being
normal. They thought that the experiences were normal and exhibited by other employees
hence were part of personality traits. As noted in the account of Maria, she started
understanding the complexity of the behavior once it began disrupting her normal functioning
at work. Notably, the research carried out by [3] proves such effects pointing out that persons
affected by compulsive behaviors and disorders lack insights of the excessiveness associated
with the symptoms the behavior elicits. Since the behavior occurs repetitively, the affected
individuals perceive them as being normal [1]. They, therefore, exhibit them uncontrollably
understanding that nobody is hurt in the process.
In most workplaces, employers emphasize performance and fail to look at the process under
which one is supposed to perform. Employers focus on consequences the behavior elicits,
including absenteeism, low productivity, and chronic lateness in completing the assigned tasks
or the failure to finish the provided projects within the provided time, without looking at the
behavior itself. A look at the filled questionnaires proved that most compulsive behaviors are
mild and severe, implying that their effects on the individual and their work are high. Most
employees interpret such consequences as being caused by a lack of focus and not being keen
on time management. In a study on the effect of compulsive behavior within familial contexts,
Walseth and others realized that family members who exhibited the behaviors were perceived
as being abnormal, causing closer members to carry out close monitoring and surveillance on
them [17]. In the workplace, the resulting consequence of the behavior is that most companies
rather refer their employees to time management counselors when the behavior persists. When
such a decision is taken, the compulsion often increases as the worker gets frustrated more
since focusing on time management means handling the consequence to the behavior and not
the behavior. As Rachman and De Silva point out, the obsessive behaviors are perceived as
being normal, causing the actor to increase their frequency [14]. Ultimately, most employers
become issue warnings or terminate their employees as observed in most of the interviewed
cases where most employers issue warnings and finally terminate the employee.
As pointed out by the participants in the interview sessions, compulsive behaviors in the
workplace occur as a response to obsessions that individuals develop over time. The workers
in different working environments, as noted in the sessions, engage in compulsive behavior to
reduce anxiety associated with obsessive thoughts. In the case of I.R., who is a retailer in one of
the organizations in Romania, his compulsive cleanliness behavior is associated with obsessive
thoughts of perfection and the fear of contracting diseases from dirty environments. I.R.
confirmed that despite trying hard to stop the behavior, he ends up getting caught in the cycle
of tension-reduction since obsessions elicit anxiety that other employees at the workplace find
hard to cope with. However, the relief is short-lived; the cycle later repeats, causing disturbance
again [11]. The occurrence and re-occurrence of the compulsive behavior among employees
like I.R. prove that once compulsions start, one finds it hard to stop them because of the anxiety
associated with them. The persistent repetition of reading the work done to ensure the work is
done to perfection and according to the provided instructions, as exhibited by J.D., proves the
point since she is unable to stop even after several warnings from the employer. Such
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experience coincides with the research carried out by the American Obsessive-Compulsive
Foundation in 2001, holding that approximately 2% of the American population suffers from
compulsive disorders causing irresistible anxiety and panic disorder. The research coincides
with the revelation of most participants like J.D., who affirmed how hard she finds controlling
the compulsive behavior due to the anxiety and panic that something wrong will happen. Panic
disorder is also exhibited by employees who experience repetitive isolation behavior as they
characterize closeness with unknown consequences, making them walk out of meetings
without permission.
Such understanding coincides with the research carried out by Paige on the effects of obsessive- compulsive behavior on adolescents and children. To Paige, when the obsessive compulsion is
left untreated, obsessive thoughts alter performance, relationships, and attention span [12]. As
noted from the participants' revelations, concentration on the assigned tasks, as well as
performance, is altered by increased compulsive behaviors. Despite the participants exhibiting
difficulties in the management of the exhibited behaviors, they argued that the significant
others, including their employers and coworkers, have accommodated and tolerated their
behaviors. Such finding is consistent with the finding of the study carried out by Palardy and
others, proving that social support is significant to patients suffering from obsessive- compulsive behaviors [13]. By accommodating employees at work, frustration and anxiety are
minimized, making them perceive the workplace as being friendly.
CONCLUSION
The qualitative findings obtained in this study explore the lived perceptions and experiences of
Romanian employees affected by compulsive behaviors. Effects of compulsive behaviors on the
interviewed participants provide in-depth analysis and understanding of the effects and need
for mitigation of the behaviors. The findings explored remain consistent with various analyses
and results of other qualitative research like the research carried out by the American
Compulsive Foundation, analyzing the impacts of compulsive disorders and behaviors.
Therefore, the consequences of the compulsive behaviors in the workplace show that the
participants find it hard to control them, causing misunderstandings from employers and
coworkers. As most of them proved, most employers grow weary of the behaviors elicited due
to inability to finish the assigned tasks on time, and the inconveniences caused to other
employees. Nevertheless, the provision of social support, understanding, and accommodation
to the behaviors and their consequences helps employees to cope up with the demanding work
demands.
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