Job burnout, or employee burnout, is a condition that occurs when individuals undergo symptoms of exhaustion, stress, frustration, and, in some cases, depression due to overworking.
Countless individuals suffer from this syndrome as a result of poor management practices, unequal distribution of work, stress, and neglect of employee mental health in the workplace.
McKinsey Health’s study that included 15,000 respondents from 15 countries found that a quarter of respondents experienced burnout syndrome due to excessive workload.
Employee burnout is a serious issue that shouldn’t slip through the cracks, as it negatively affects both the employees and the employer. Burnout can cause employees to feel uninterested and apathetic toward their daily tasks and hurt employers’ reputations.
In the upcoming sections, we will dive into the causes of employee burnout, how this state can reflect on the work of the employees, and what managers can do to ease these symptoms and keep their employees satisfied in the workplace.
Job Burnout Symptoms
In 2019, burnout was officially recognized as an occupational phenomenon in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).
However, the study of burnout in the workplace dates back to the 1970s. Psychiatrist Herbert Freudenberg was among the first to investigate the condition in 1974. His research found that individuals experiencing burnout often exhibit irritability, anger, reduced motivation and energy, and cynical behavior.
The findings have been proven to be accurate even in the present day. According to WHO burnout syndrome is characterized by three stages:
- feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion;
- increased mental distance from one’s job, feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and
- reduced professional efficacy.
Job burnout ultimately can lead to a decrease in the quality of work performed, unhappy employees, and damage to the company’s reputation.
Employees are the driving force behind a company, so being aware of their emotional state, thoughts and current feelings can help you recognize whether someone is going through a rough patch with their work, and potentially take measures to prevent this from happening.
What Causes Job Burnout
Even the most motivated and energized employees can experience exhaustion, and low energy levels, and can feel less enthusiastic and concerned about their work. This can lead employees to feel like every day is a burden and become aggrieved and resentful towards their jobs.
If companies want to keep their employees lively, energetic, motivated, and passionate they must understand the factors contributing to it.
While there isn’t an exact reason that causes burnout symptoms, several are universal and affect almost all employees.
Lack Of Control
Lack of control over schedules, making decisions, and making a choice can lead employees to feel indifferent and neglectful toward their jobs.
As per the findings in the study titled “New Insights into Burnout and Healthcare: Strategies for Improving Civility and Alleviating Burnout,” employees with autonomy and control over their work tend to experience lower rates of burnout and higher levels of professional fulfillment.
Heavy Work-Load And Working Long Hours
Every job requires physical and mental effort which, if not followed by adequate breaks and rest, can lead to exhaustion.
People who work long hours and expose themselves to mental and physical strain are at risk of becoming completely exhausted and unable to work anymore.
In addition, too much work and not enough time to complete it can also cause employees to feel stressed and anxious leading to overall dissatisfaction and work resentment.
Stress
Stress is often interchangeably used as a synonym for burnout. Although these states are connected, they are different.
According to Mental Health UK, burnout is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion that’s a result of long-term stress, such as working a stressful job.
This implies that employers exposed to stress-inducing influences are at a higher risk of experiencing work-related burnout.
Compensation
A Forbes article explains that research examining a direct correlation between income, one-time bonus payments, and burnout is sparse.
Nonetheless, it highlights the significant influence of income on job satisfaction, which, in turn, can help mitigate burnout.
Toxic Environment
A work setting lacking teamwork, neglecting the needs and preferences of employees, and distributing work incorrectly can adversely impact the emotional well-being of employees.
Such an environment is commonly referred to as a toxic work environment, characterized by the absence of mechanisms that promote a healthy and pleasant workplace.
In toxic environments, there is often a manifestation of toxic communication among employees, further elevating stress and dissatisfaction levels, ultimately contributing to burnout.
Idealistic Expectations
Susan E. Jackson and Randall S. Schuler in their research “Preventing Employee Burnout”, highlight that people who have idealistic expectations of their work are more likely to suffer from burnout.
Namely, when employees enter a workplace with high or specific expectations that the workplace fails to meet, they undergo a “reality shock” that is one of the main reasons for burnout.
How to recognize employee burnout
Employee burnout can be hard to spot. Often, many employees are unaware that low energy levels, cynicism, and unwillingness to work are symptoms of burnout.
On the other hand, exhaustion is highly individual and many can attribute their emotional state to exhaustion after working on a complex project.
In any case, managers should be aware that this condition affects everyone, including the managers themselves.
That’s why they should take into account the most common behaviors that employees can show when they are facing burnout.
Here are some common signs of employee burnout:
- Decreased productivity and efficiency;
- Procrastination and missed deadlines;
- Withdrawal from social interactions and team activities;
- Increased use of sick leave or absenteeism;
How to help employees who feel exhausted and overworked
Managers can do a few things to prevent or help employees overcome burnout.
As a rule of thumb, the company needs to nurture an environment where support and understanding are part of its values.
That said, managers should encourage open communication, regularly schedule meetings where employees can say how they feel, and conduct surveys.
In addition, there are a few other things companies can include to prevent employees from feeling burnt out.
- Flexible Work Arrangements;
- Recognition and Appreciation;
- Encourage Time Off;
- Set Realistic Goals;
- Regular therapy;
- Time and stress management training;
- Learning to say no” training.
To sum up
Burnout is an occupational phenomenon that affects millions of people around the world and arises as a result of excessive exhaustion from the workplace.
Work burnout is a serious problem that, if not addressed, can lead to negative consequences for both the employee and the employer.
Managers must detect this issue and be proactive to help employees stay motivated, enthusiastic, and happy in the workplace.