According to Indeed’s recent “Employee Burnout Report,” employee burnout has worsened since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2019. Specifically, more than half of surveyed respondents reported feeling burned out, with more than two-thirds stating they believe that feeling worsened throughout the pandemic.
What’s more, the Indeed report found that year-over-year, employee burnout is rising. The study’s authors noted that an incredible 52% of respondents are experiencing burnout in 2021, up from 43% who said the same in Indeed’s pre-COVID survey.
Although the notion of employee burnout is not new, especially among healthcare workers and first responders, what is clear is that the pandemic has exacerbated workplace challenges and highlighted areas where employers can make improvements. Whether pandemic-fueled or not, the fact is that burnout rates are up across all industries.
So, what can employers and HR leaders do to recognize and reduce signs of burnout among staff? Read on to find out.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently classified burnout as an “occupational phenomenon or work hazard.” According to WHO, “Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”
WHO classifies burnout in three dimensions:
The simple fact is that employee burnout is a condition that will likely only worsen if companies don’t take preventative measures and get buy-in from C-suite executives, managers and HR leaders. Of course, burnout can affect employees at all levels of a company; even HR leaders must find ways to address their burnout triggers to help others succeed.
Are you exhausted but get little sleep? Do you feel dread when you wake up in the morning? Have you turned to food or substances like drugs or alcohol to cope? Each of these is symptoms and behaviors indicative of burnout. Much like the common cold, burnout symptoms may not hit all at once but in phases.
Other common symptoms of burnout include:
Although causes or stressors may vary from person to person, burnout can be triggered by some of the following workplace situations:
Whether the demands of your job are too extreme or too lax, it’s essential to find ways to bring more balance into your life. Remember that your work is not meant to affect your connections and wreak havoc on your life outside of the office.
So, how do you bring balance back into your life? Begin to tackle burnout by utilizing these three key solutions:
Addressing the root causes of burnout is not simple, and the solutions can take time and effort. That being said, the first step is simply acknowledging the problem and working with your company to create a better path forward.
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