Nine telltale signs
1. Time wasters
The classic martyr goes to unnecessary meetings, is easily distracted or slackens off on Friday. Then works on weekends to catch up and presents it as discretionary effort. They become conditioned to unnecessary weekend work.
2. Always look rushed
I’m yet to meet an office martyr who works steadily and calmly throughout the day. Martyrs always look a little frantic, downtrodden and unhappy, as though only they are making the big sacrifices.
3. Self-promoters
You ask a martyr if they had a nice weekend and they immediately talk about the burden of working Sunday. You say good morning at work and they say they are sleepy from working late the night before. Their martyrdom looms in every conversation.
4. Excessive emailers
Office martyrs love a good email, usually after work hours, to more people than need to receive it. The Sunday afternoon email goes to half the office and is more about showing they worked the day than any real output. Martyrs often reply quickly to emails because they are unfocused and intent on showing how they work hard.
5. Work during leave
Some martyrs cannot resist checking on work emails and sending a few on holidays. Or pretending to work when they are sick. I know of one who sent work emails during family bereavement leave. They want others to know they are available 24/7 and their managers to plead with them to stop working on holidays. It’s painful.
6. They seek trade-offs
True martyrs work longer hours and make sacrifices, seeking promotions and pay rises in return. The fakers tell everyone about their weekend work, then quietly ask the boss for a day in lieu to make up for it. Their productivity suffers in the long run.
7. Terrible managers
Office martyrs cannot manage themselves, so they have little hope managing others. They set a poor example with work-life balance and expect others to do the same. Good staff do not want to work with them because they will be judged on the wrong metrics. Bad martyrs also have a habit of being office gossips.
8. Insecurity
Some office martyrs work long hours because they are unsure of their ability and believe that being seen to make personal sacrifices is the best way to keep their job. The strategy only works to a point.
9. No life outside work
I am yet to meet an office martyr who has a fulfilling life outside work. For them, work is life and vice versa. Both inevitably suffer.