Impacts of Workaholism in Small, Family-Owned Businesses

This study explores the economic and psychological dimensions of workaholism among owners of micro-sized, family-run enterprises (up to nine employees), motivated by a notable increase in clients reporting workaholic tendencies at a psychotherapy centre. Through in-depth, qualitative interviews with 64 multi-generational family‐business owners selected via quota sampling, we identify key behavioral and attitudinal manifestations of workaholism. Findings highlight patterns such as excessive work hours, emotional dependency on business performance, blurred work–life boundaries, and decision-making driven by compulsion rather than strategy. We discuss how these behaviors affect both individual well-being and firm-level economic outcomes—namely productivity fluctuations, employee relations, and long-term financial sustainability. The paper contributes to a broader research initiative on the psychological underpinnings of family enterprise management and offers recommendations for interventions that balance entrepreneurial drive with healthy organizational practices.