According to the Employee Sentiment Report, 46% of employees experience workplace burnout, with this figure rising every quarter. Not only does this create unproductive work behaviours and efforts, but it can also lead to preventable employee loss, rostering issues resulting in overworked and stressed employees, and a steep increase in employee mental health concerns and potential compensation claims.
In 2019 the World Health Organization determined workplace burnout as an ‘occupational phenomenon’ and a ‘reactive mental health condition’. It can be further defined as chronic stress that is induced by workplace duties or responsibilities resulting in physical or emotional exhaustion leading to reduced motivation to participate or accomplish work tasks, frequently associated or leading to a diagnosis of depression.
There are three types of workplace burnout:
- Exhaustion – Fatigue;
- Cynicism – No effort towards work anymore; and
- Inefficacy – Employees feel that they are not making a difference.
You might be saying, ‘why does it matter?’ Well, research shows that employee burnout is most likely to occur in workers that are highly productive and engaged in the workplace, implying that the employees who reach burnout are predominantly your highest performing!
You can recognise employee burnout via the symptoms of: exhaustion, disinterest and withdrawal from workplace responsibilities and development, lack of motivation, differing workplace behaviours or disgruntled attitudes resulting in strained workplace relationships, developed mental health disorders, and/or sudden resignation.
It can be prevented via employer best practice behaviours, such as:
- The development of a support network that fosters activities in and out of the workplace for enhanced social support and relationship building amongst employees;
- Regular employee performance reviews to determine goals, satisfaction and dissatisfaction, providing constructive and regular feedback opportunities and guided/responsive adjustments;
- The provision of detailed position descriptions and regular review of employee workload verse role and expectations, increasing employee control over workload and adequate resources of time, skill and motivation;
- Fostering a workplace culture and attitude of work-life balance; and
- Provision of benefits that assist in maintaining employee health through affiliate partners or discounts of fitness, counselling, psychology, health insurance, employee perks, meal provision;
Assurance HR Management can assist in conducting regular workplace reviews of your employee performance, collating data to identify employee dissatisfaction and the preventative environmental factors that may be contributing. We can also guide you in implementing and managing adjustments to employee roles and responsibilities in accordance with directions from health professionals, increasing employee satisfaction and workplace culture. Call us today on 1800 577 515 to discuss your business specific needs.
