The Hidden Problem of “Invisible” Overworked Employees

Most managers can spot an underperformer. But the real risk to your team isn’t always the ones doing too little—it’s the ones doing too much, quietly.

In every wholesale business, there’s someone picking up the slack. The one who stays late, never complains, and keeps everything moving. They don’t make noise, so you don’t notice the pressure building. But over time, it adds up, and when they burn out—or leave—it hits hard.

Here’s how to spot the signs of an “invisible” overworker:
✔ They rarely delegate and take on “just one more thing”
✔ They never say no, even when overwhelmed
✔ They fix problems others have created
✔ Their performance stays high—until suddenly it doesn’t

The problem? You’ve probably become reliant on them without realising it. And they won’t tell you they’re drowning—until it’s too late.

Here’s what to do:
– Regularly review workloads across the team
– Ask “who else could do this?” before assigning that go-to person again
– Create a culture where capacity checks aren’t seen as weakness

📌 Don’t wait until they’re gone to realise how much they were carrying. Check in now.