Heavy Work Investment

The book deals with the concept of Heavy Work Investment (HWI) recently initiated by Snir and Harpaz. Since its introduction the interest in the general HWI model has increased considerably. The book illustrates the development of HWI conceptualization, theory, and research. It deals with the foremost HWI subtype of workaholism. However, it also compares workaholism as a "negative" HWI subtype with work devotion/passion/engagement, as a "positive" HWI subtype. Most importantly, it addresses HWI in general, including its possible situational subtypes. In view of Snir and Harpaz's claim that the study of situational heavy work investors is relatively scarce, this certainly constitutes a promising step in the right direction. Finally, it deals with timely and important topics examined by prominent international researchers on Heavy Work Investment and such issues as: personality factors of workaholism, work-life balance, cross-cultural similarities and differences in HWI, work addiction and technology, HWI and retirement, and intergenerational similarity in work investment.

"This book focusses on one of the critical productivity and quality-of-working-life issues we face: workaholism. ‘Heavy work’ signifies a culture where people feel they have to work excessively long hours, and with excessively heavy effort. This is a must read for HR professionals and those who study or suffer from workaholism—it describes research findings that will make a difference to your workplace and life."—Cary L. Cooper, CBE, Distinguished Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health at Lancaster University Management School, UK"It is common now around the world to see people whose lives are completely dedicated to their work. Why this has happened and what it means both for them and the people around them is an important question. This book provides compelling answers."—Peter Cappelli, George W. Taylor Professor of Management and Director, Center for Human Resources at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, USA

Itzhak Harpaz, PhD, is Professor of Management, Dean of Graduate Studies, and director of the Center for the Study of Organizations and Human Resource Management at the University of Haifa, Israel. He is also a Research Fellow at the Center for Human Resources and Labor Studies at the University of Minnesota.Raphael Snir, PhD, is Senior Lecturer at the School of Management and Economics and at the School of Behavioral Sciences at the Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Israel. He is also a research fellow at the Center for the Study of Organizations and Human Resource Management at the University of Haifa, Israel.