Work aversion

Work aversion or Workplace aversion is a pyschological disorder, often an anxiety disorder, in which the subject intentionally refuses to be gainfully employed at all, or works far less than is necessary in order to meet ones needs [1]. It is estimated that more than four million people in the United States may be suffering from some form of work aversion, though most cases or not officially diagnosed as a clinical disorder [2].

The term work aversion does not refer to immature teens who fail to seek their first job. The subject of work aversion is typically an adult who has expenses, hence the need for steady employment. But for psychological reasons, such as a phobia, s/he does not attempt to work or seek employment, and makes excuses to others for not doing so.

Excuses

Common excuses made for not being employed include:

• Lack of available employment, even when there are many potential jobs on the market.
• Disability that prevents subject from doing any form of work, even when subject is able-bodied, and others who are more disable are capable of identical jobs.
• Non-paying obligations the subject claims s/he has that make him/her unable to have the time to work, such as a hobby, caring for one's own child, caring for an elderly parent, volunteer work, education (as in the case of perpetual students), or religious beliefs. This is when one's main obligation should be to earn a living.

Many subjects suffering from work aversion live with the urealistic expectance that cash will somehow flow their way. Such expectation may be contingent upon:

• An inheritance, even when there is no inheritance due to the subject any time soon.
• Winnings from a lottery, sweepstakes, or other forms of gambling, even when the subject is not actively playing any of these, or the odds of winning are very minimal.
• A generous gift from a sympathetic relative, friend, or non-profit organization
• A dream job, even when no such job exists, or the subject is not actively seeking one.
• Success in a business front the subject is not actively pursuing.
• As in the case of the perpetual student, the hope that a degree one day will automatically bring money, even without applying for a job.
• The hope that a hobby or talent the subject has that currently does not pay, such as art or music, will one day will lead to a lucrative breakthrough.

Causes

The typical view of the subject by others is often laziness. But most persons suffering from work aversion are not lazy in the sense of lacking energy. The reason for failing to work is psychological.

Work aversion usually occurs in persons who have previously been employed, and can have a variety of causes. These include:

• Depression (mood): A person who is suffering from clinical depression, dysthymia, grief, or other similar disorders may simply lack the motivation to work.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder: The subject is more focused on his/her obsessions than his/her need to work, and therefore, will not take out the time to perform a job or seek employment.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder: The subject has suffered from a traumatic experience at an earlier job. This may be a physical injury suffered on the job, a scary event that occurred while at work (such as a robbery of the place of employment), severe harassement or bullying from fellow employees, or abuse from one's boss or employer.
• Abrupt Termination: A former employee who was fired or layed off from an earlier job may be fearful of seeking future employment on the basis that such may recur.

Complications

Since the term work aversion only applies to one with the need to earn income, complications will inevitably arise from lacking the money the subject needs from employment. These may include:

• Loss of assets
• Loss of money in a get-rich-quick scheme the subject enters out of desperation
• Debt and credit problems
• Self-neglect. This may include malnourishment, since the subject may be unable to afford a sufficient diet.
• Neglect of dependents, such as spouse and children, who one is expected to support.
• Neglect of personal belongings, such as one's home, car, or other possessions requiring maintenence, or loss of services that require payment of a monthly bill, such as utilities, phone service, insurance.
• Strained relations with family and friends, especically those who are forced to support the unemployed subject, or those who otherwise expect the subject to have money or items of value.
• Strained marriage, when financial problems hurt marriage
• Legal problems, when subject turns to law-breaking to obtain cost of living
• Homelessness, in most severe cases

Persons suffering from work aversion in need of money will often resort to extreme measures in order to obtain the funding needed to support themselves. These include:

• Draining ones savings, and cashing out bonds and other stored funds to which the subject has access.
• Racking up large amounts of debt and maxing out on credit cards, cashing out equity in one's home or other real property, or pawning one's valuables.
• Begging money from members of one's family or friends.
• Seeking public assistance, such as food stamps, and grants from private or religious organizations.
• Criminal activity, such as fraud, embezzlement, or check kiting.

Treatment

Treating work aversion involves treating the underlying psychological cause of the disorder. Methods of treatment for these disorders include psychotherapy, counseling, medication, or some more unusual forms of treatment. Sometimes, a career change may motivate the subject back into employment.

While some mild cases of work aversion may subside naturally without any treatment, other more severe cases may be incurable.