A partial list of why people throw themselves on the cross at work

Work is about productivity and progress. It's not about telling everyone how hard you work and how much you sacrifice. Leave that for broader lessons.

• They want to be seen as relevant to others.

• Being busy is the currency of the modern age.

• They want to be seen as competent, and having a lot of work would seem to underscore competence.

• They are confused about the priorities of the organization in the first place.

• It's the only way their manager will pay attention to them.

• They feel they've "earned" the rig…