Are You A Workaholic?

NEW YORK (WLNY) — When most people leave work at the end of the day they let out a sigh of relief. But for others, enough is just never enough.

Experts say skipping lunch, staying late and constantly checking e-mail are all characteristics of "workaholics." Now, a scientific test can determine whether or not you fit into this category as well, TV 10-55's Rob Morrison reported Monday.

Eda Kalkay said she was so attached to her BlackBerry that she wanted to carry it when she walked down the aisle at her wedding.

"My wedding planner removed it. I'm glad he did. I probably would have been more secure with it with me," she said.

Kalkay is a workaholic. She said that she is driven by a love of her job and a compulsion to stay ahead.

"The economy today is really adding an entirely new level of pressure to the, to the workforce," she said.

Experts told WLNY-TV that Kalkay is far from alone.

"There is this perception that 'if I lose my job, I'm never going to get a job again' that makes people more of a workaholic," explained psychologist Elizabeth Lombardo.

Bu all work and no play can be dangerous, according to experts.

"The problem is it takes us away from truly enjoying those experiences that we're having — like getting married," Lombardo said.

Researchers have developed a test to determine how addicted a person is to their job. The Bergen Work Addiction Scale uses seven basic criteria to identify "workaholism."

Questions like: "How often do people tell you that you need to cut down on work?" and "Are you stressed if you aren't working?" help experts determine whether or not a person is a workaholic. If a person answers "often" to too many of these questions then there is a good chance that they are.

Lombardo said that the test serves as a red flag for many people.

Employment experts told CBS 2 that there are ways to remain effective in the workplace without letting it take over your life.

"I think it's more like work-life integration, because the two bleed into each other," said Ron Ashkenas, an employment consultant.

Consultants recommend allocating a certain amount of time for work, and a certain amount of time to focus on your personal life.

How do you keep your work life separate from your personal life? Let us know in our comments section below…