ergophobia

American  

[ur-guh-foh-bee-uh] / ˌɜr gəˈfoʊ bi ə /

noun

1. Psychiatry. an irrational or disproportionate fear of or anxiety about work: Overtime, ergophobia, and burnout plague the tech sector.

   Researchers are studying ergophobia and other barriers stay-at-home moms may face when reentering the workforce.

   Overtime, ergophobia, and burnout plague the tech sector.

2. Facetious. an aversion to work.

   How many hours of productivity are we losing to long weekends, ergophobia, and the Monday blues?

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Other Word Forms

• ergophobic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of ergophobia

First recorded in 1905–10; ergo- ¹ + -phobia

Explanation

Many people experience workplace stress, but a person with ergophobia has a debilitating anxiety disorder that goes far beyond just disliking a job. Ergophobia is way more than not wanting to go back to work on Monday morning after a relaxing weekend, and it's not just laziness, either. It's a physical and psychological reaction to work-related situations. People who suffer from ergophobia may have physical panic attacks, including a rapid heartbeat, sweating, tremors, or nausea associated with work. Some sufferers have an overwhelming belief that they are incompetent. The term stems from the Greek ergon, meaning "work," and phobia, meaning "fear."

Example Sentences

Navarro has been on sick leave for almost a year and says he has developed ergophobia – a fear of the workplace – as a result of the situation.

From The Guardian • Apr. 27, 2018