LiveCareer Survey Finds 77% of Workers Take on Extra Duties Weekly; 93% Say It Leads to Burnout

Only 11% of workers set boundaries, as pressure to accept additional tasks fuels widespread burnout and challenges productivity.

GUAYNABO, PR, January 16, 2025—LiveCareer®, a career service dedicated to resumes and cover letters, has released its Hidden Costs and Rewards of Extra Work Report, highlighting the prevalence of extra work responsibilities in the workplace and the impact these added tasks have on employee well-being and productivity. Based on a December 2024 survey of 1,160 U.S. workers, the report uncovers the challenges workers face, from burnout to difficulty managing workload expectations, while also shedding light on the positive outcomes some workers experience.

Key insights:

• 77% of employees are asked to take on additional work beyond their job description at least weekly.
• 93% of employees experience burnout from taking on extra work.
• Only 11% say they negotiate or set boundaries.
• Strained relationships with supervisors (40%) and reduced productivity (37%) are the top negative outcomes.
• Skill development (33%) and financial rewards (32%) are the top cited benefits.

“Extra work can be a stepping stone for career growth, with many workers viewing it as an opportunity to develop valuable skills and advance professionally,” said Jasmine Escalera, career expert for LiveCareer. “However, balancing additional tasks with core responsibilities can lead to burnout and job dissatisfaction for some, especially when expectations are unclear or unfairly distributed.”

The Prevalence of Extra Work

Extra tasks are a reality for most employees, with the majority of workers saying they are regularly asked to perform work that falls outside of their job descriptions on a weekly basis. 

• 77% of employees are asked to take on additional work beyond their job description at least weekly.
  • 36% face these requests daily.
  • 41% are asked weekly.
  • Only 3% say they are never asked to take on extra work.

Burnout Is Widespread

The majority of workers experience burnout as a direct result of taking on additional responsibilities. 

• 93% of employees experience burnout from taking on extra work.
  • 59% frequently feel burned out from not saying no to extra responsibilities.
  • 34% occasionally experience burnout due to taking on extra work.

Reactions to Requests for Extra Work

When asked to take on extra tasks, most employees feel pressured to say yes, even when it may conflict with their workload or personal boundaries. 

• 56% of employees feel pressured and agree reluctantly to additional tasks.
• 30% accept extra work willingly.
• Only 11% set boundaries and say no to extra responsibilities.
• Just 3% decline requests.

Why Employees Say Yes

Employees take on additional responsibilities for a variety of reasons, often driven by external pressures or personal ambitions. 

• 27% cite pressure from managers or leadership.
• 24% want to seek recognition or stand out.
• 23% aim to be team players.
• 18% are motivated by career advancement opportunities.
• 8% admit they do not know how to decline extra work.

Sources of Extra Work

Requests for additional tasks come from a variety of sources:

• 23% from direct managers.
• 22% from senior leaders or vice presidents.
• 22% from coworkers.
• 21% from managers of other teams.
• 13% from HR departments.

Types of Extra Work Assigned

The additional responsibilities employees are asked to take on span a wide range of tasks, often extending beyond their core job functions. Employees reported being asked to take on:

• 37% planning or coordinating workplace events.
• 37% administrative duties.
• 34% of tasks are typically handled by another department.
• 32% overtime.
• 29% of tasks are from unfilled positions.
• 28% mentoring or training colleagues.
• 28% covering for absent coworkers.

Positive Outcomes

While taking on extra work presents challenges, many employees recognize significant benefits that can contribute to their personal and professional growth. These outcomes highlight how additional responsibilities, when managed effectively, can create valuable opportunities:

• 33% report skill development as a key benefit.
• 32% experience financial rewards like bonuses or raises.
• 31% form closer relationships with colleagues.
• 31% see opportunities for career advancement.

Negative Outcomes

However, employees face significant drawbacks when taking on extra work, particularly with their supervisor relationships and productivity levels:

• 40% experience strained relationships with supervisors.
• 37% report reduced productivity.
• 34% feel lower job satisfaction.
• 32% are concerned about setting unrealistic expectations for future performance.

Perceptions of Fairness and Compensation

Many employees view their extra responsibilities as essential to organizational success, with most feeling adequately rewarded for their efforts. However, perceptions of fairness and the benefits of extra work vary significantly across age groups:

• 56% of employees believe the extra work they take on is critical to the business’s success.
• 90% feel fairly compensated for their additional tasks.
• Older workers (41+) are more likely to perceive task distribution as fair (75%) compared to younger workers (25 or younger, 35%).
• Older workers (36%) are the most likely to see career advancement as a positive outcome, while younger workers (19%) are less likely to experience the same benefit.

“Organizations must strike a delicate balance between assigning additional tasks to foster employee growth and avoiding overburdening their workforce,” said Escalera. “By prioritizing open communication, equitable workload distribution, and encouraging healthy boundary-setting, employers can create a workplace culture that supports professional development while maintaining sustainable productivity, employee satisfaction and long-term organizational success.”

To view the full report with more information, please visit https://www.livecareer.com/resources/the-hidden-cost-of-extra-work or contact Nathan Barber at nathan.barber@bold.com. 

Methodology:

The findings provided were gathered through a survey conducted with 1,160 American workers on December 3, 2024. Participants were asked to share their feelings on how saying "no" to additional responsibilities impacts their personal lives and mental health by responding to various question types, including yes/no questions, open-ended questions, scale-based questions gauging agreement levels, and questions that permitted the selection of multiple options from a list of answers.

About LiveCareer

LiveCareer is the premier career site empowering job seekers to find their path to professional success. Since 2005, LiveCareer has helped over 10 million workers worldwide by offering information, expert guidance, and support to boost their chances of finding a job in less time. This includes providing job seekers with resume templates that can help them build stronger resumes and cover letters. LiveCareer’s extensive suite of career resources also includes interview prep tools and original content to help candidates navigate their job search and target their chosen career path. Stay connected with LiveCareer's latest updates on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.