Confessions of the Office Workhorse

“Office workhorses”—reliable employees who take on more than their share of tasks—often find themselves managing extra duties that benefit their teams but don’t always result in promotions or raises. These individuals are known for their hard work and often assume responsibilities that might otherwise fall to their supervisors or peers.

Taking on extra responsibilities at work may seem like a fast track to career growth, but for many employees, it’s a road to burnout instead. Find out who is most likely to take on extra work, how this shapes their careers, and why some are considering new opportunities to break free from the workhorse cycle.

Key takeaways

61% of employees consider themselves office workhorses, with Gen X (64%) being the most likely to identify as workhorses and Gen Z (52%) the least likely.
55% of workhorses feel their contributions are undervalued.
1 in 8 workhorses haven’t received a raise in the past 3 years.
55% of workhorses feel stuck in their current positions, and 51% feel burnt out.
31% of workhorses are considering leaving their job, with 24% exploring other roles and 7% planning to transition to freelancing due to feeling undervalued.

01. Stepping up

Office workhorses carry more than their fair share of the load, but how common is this phenomenon, and who is most likely to identify as one?

Number of extra responsibilities workhorses handle

Many employees—61%—consider themselves office workhorses. Gen X workers (64%) are the most likely to identify as such, while Gen Z is the least likely (52%). Over half of millennial (62%) and baby boomer (57%) employees also identify as workhorses.

By industry, marketing professionals (75%) are the most likely to see themselves as workhorses, followed by employees in:

Real estate: 65%
Healthcare: 65%
Retail: 63%
Information technology: 61%
Hospitality: 56%
Education: 50%

Overall, workhorses are four times more likely than non-workhorses to have six or more additional responsibilities outside their defined job. However, taking on more work doesn’t always come with recognition.

More than half of workhorses (55%) feel undervalued at work, which can lead to frustration, burnout, and low morale. Nearly the same number (53%) have requested a salary increase due to their heavier workload.

02. Tackling extra responsibilities for career growth

For many office workhorses, taking on extra tasks is seen as a way to advance their careers. However, the reality of career progression doesn’t always match the effort put in.

Workhorses career advancement

Despite handling additional tasks, 1 in 8 office workhorses haven’t received a raise in the past 3 years. This highlights a disconnect between the extra work they do and the rewards (or lack thereof) associated with it. They might expect their dedication to lead to raises and promotions, but that isn’t always the case.

In fact, 55% of workhorses report that they haven’t been able to make the career advancements they had planned. This demonstrates a significant roadblock for those who go above and beyond, suggesting that extra work alone isn’t enough to guarantee career growth.

It also raises questions about whether these employees are being fairly compensated for their efforts or whether the “workhorse” mentality sometimes leads to worker exploitation.

03. Weighing career shifts due to burnout

The burden of extra responsibilities can take a toll on office workhorses, often leading to burnout and feelings of being stuck in their roles.

Feeling stuck at work

While 69% of office workhorses have declined additional responsibilities at some point, nearly half of those who said no (47%) feared negative consequences. This finding reveals the pressure many feel to continue taking on extra work, even when they know it may not lead to any meaningful rewards or it may be too much for them to handle.

More than half of workhorses (55%) feel stuck in their current positions, and 51% report feeling burnt out. Burnout can also push employees toward significant life changes: 31% are thinking about leaving their current jobs.

Due to feeling undervalued, 24% want to explore other roles, and 7% plan to transition to freelancing. This trend is telling, as many workhorses may see freelancing as a way to gain more control over their workloads and income, offering a potential escape from the pressures of traditional office roles.

04. Methodology

For this campaign, we surveyed 1,003 full-time employees in September 2024 to explore the prevalence of tasks and career trajectories. Of the respondents, 12% are Gen Z, 57% are millennials, 27% are from Gen X, and 4% are baby boomers.

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