burnout

A new psychological scale—I-CHEW—finally teases apart two ideas we’ve long conflated: working hard versus working excessively. In six North American samples (N=1,902), researchers show that perceiving a culture that values efficient, high-quality effort predicts higher engagement and satisfaction—without harming health. In contrast, perceiving a culture that pushes long hours and constant availability predicts burnout, poorer well-being, worse sleep, and lower job satisfaction. The I-CHEW is psychometrically strong (two-factor structure, solid test–retest reliability) and adds predictive power beyond staples like work ethic, overwork climate, and workaholism. The message is clear: organizations and societies should celebrate smart, focused work, not endless hours. With I-CHEW, leaders can finally measure the cultural signals employees feel—and then redesign incentives, rituals, and policies to build healthier, higher-performing workplaces.