In this newsletter:
a description of work hurt;
a NEW workshop for those in toxic workplaces; and
a referral program for subscribers.
What is Work Hurt?
What is work hurt? I paused before I responded to Father Ron Lengwin’s question. My mind struggled to find the answer, which I thought odd since I’m the author of a book on work hurt. Why couldn’t I come up with the answer more quickly? Maybe I was overly tired after a weekend full of intense soccer games. Or maybe I had never taken the time to explain precisely what work hurt is.
While I coined the term “work hurt,” I never explicitly defined it in my book. I’ll attempt to do so here.
Work hurt is the physical or psychological injury we sustain in our occupations.
Let’s break down this definition.
Work Hurt Can Be A Physical Injury
If you asked Google, What is work hurt?, most of the search results would be about being physically injured on the job:
what you should do if you’re injured on the job;
OSHA policies on worker rights and safety; and
law firms that will help you sue your employer for work-related injury or illness, for example.
Work-related injuries can range from a paper cut to dropping a can of paint on your foot. And work-related illnesses can include work-induced stress and respiratory problems due to breathing toxic air on the job.
Those who have studied the Old Testament know that the Bible describes work as physically painful. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve learned that, as a consequence of their disobedience, they would have to tend with thorns and thistles while tending the ground.
Work Can Cause Psychological Harm
Work can also cause psychological harm. Genesis 3 describes “painful labor” and “painful toil” that Adam and Eve would experience in their work. The word “painful” can mean physical pain, but it can also refer to “mental and emotional suffering.”1
Working for a toxic boss, being bullied by a co-worker, and getting unexpectedly laid off can cause psychological harm, even trauma. Work can lead to emotional pain. In our current economy and cultural climate, I suspect that many people are more likely to experience psychological than physical pain in the workplace. That’s why I write in my book, “Work can break our bodies. But more often, it breaks our hearts.”
Work Hurt In Our Occupations
When I say that work hurt happens in our occupations, I don’t mean that it happens only in our paid jobs. Work is mental or physical activity done to achieve a result. It can happen in an office, on a job site, or in a home. Work can be paid or unpaid and therefore includes tasks like caregiving, homemaking, and volunteering. Work hurt can happen in any of those contexts. No one is immune.
Interested in reading more about work hurt? Check out my book, When Work Hurts: Building Resilience When You’re Beat Up or Burnt Out.
New Work Hurt Workshop
If you’re in a toxic workplace—bad boss, unhealthy culture, sick systems—this new workshop is for you. In three one-hour virtual sessions, you’ll gain frameworks and resources to help you be resilient while working in a battle zone.
The workshop begins on Wednesday, May 14. So sign up today! Space is limited! Get more info by clicking the button below.
New Referral Program
I’m so grateful for the community that we’re building here. And I’d like to invite more people to join us. That’s why I’ve established a referral program for loyal subscribers. When you share this newsletter with friends using a refer, share, or invite button, you can earn rewards.
For 2 referrals, you’ll get a link to my When Work Hurts playlist on Spotify. 10 songs to encourage you when work is tough.
For 5 referrals, you’ll get a FREE discussion guide for When Work Hurts. Icebreakers plus questions for each chapter. Book club, anyone?
For 25 referrals, you’ll get a FREE copy of When Work Hurts in your preferred format (Paperback, Kindle, or audio).
Get started today!
Thanks again for reading. If you’re new here, consider subscribing. When you do, you’ll receive a FREE work hurt assessment.
See p.6-7 in When Work Hurts where I describe this in more detail. The phrase “mental and emotional suffering” comes from C. Meyer’s entry in Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament. See footnote 1.16 in When Work Hurts for the full reference.