It’s normal to have a bad day at work, but consistently having bad days is a sign of trouble. If you often feel like you've had a bad day at work, coupled with stress, insomnia, and behavioral changes, you might be suffering from burnout.
In this article, we will explore burnout closely.
What is Burnout?
Burnout is a specific type of work-related stress that can manifest as physical, mental, or emotional exhaustion. Typically, burnout feels like a reduction in the sense of accomplishment and a general loss of identity when someone is overwhelmed or emotionally drained.
Herbert Freudenberger first coined the term burnout in 1974 in his book "Burnout: The High Cost of High Achievement" to describe the physical and emotional exhaustion one might feel with decreased achievement and loss of personal identity. The stressors we face at work can impact our lives in many ways, and when they take a turn for the worse, it is usually categorized as feeling burnt out.
Unfortunately, feeling burnt out is more common than you think. To combat employee burnout effectively, companies often use absence management programs to create customized leave policies with flexible approval workflows. Doing so enables each company to develop a leave policy centered around its employees' needs, allowing them to take advantage of the vacation, sick days, and regular paid time off they are entitled to.
Three Types of Burnout
There are three types of burnout, differing in severity and causes:
Overload Burnout:
This occurs when someone directs too much energy into their job or workplace, leading to anxiety and feeling that the rewards for good performance do not match the time and effort put into their role. Without a healthy work-life balance, overload burnout happens when someone works intensely to the point of burnout.
Under-challenged Burnout:
When individuals feel trapped in a monotonous job or an unchallenging work environment, they are likely to face burnout without any challenges. Because they feel stuck in a role that offers little satisfaction, they may suffer from low mood and irritability.
Worn-out Burnout:
This type of burnout occurs when an individual gives up after experiencing a work environment that is always a high-pressure source or produces minimal rewards or recognition.
What Causes Burnout?
Here are some of the key work-related situations that can contribute to feeling burnt out:
Unclear Responsibilities and Expectations:
Employees may be unsure of what is expected of them, perhaps due to inadequate training or unclear organizational goals. Without sufficient structure or direction, it can feel impossible to meet demands or expectations.
Continuous Busy Periods with Little Downtime:
When work piles up, it’s necessary to speed up the pace and possibly work overtime. Constant busy days can quickly blur between meetings, calls, and planning. Even though every organization has busy periods, they are typically interspersed with quieter times. When an employee works at 110% capacity consistently to keep up with demand, it can feel like losing control over their workload.
Poor Communication from Others:
Poor communication can lead to feelings of isolation, confusion about duties, and anxiety about work—all of which can lead to burnout.
Poor Work-Life Balance:
Nowadays, employees can stay connected wherever they are, blurring the line between work and personal time. Tools like instant messaging or email on personal devices and video conferencing platforms can turn any place into a meeting room, which, while useful, can erode personal time.
Poor Leadership:
Poor leadership can result in broken communication, lack of teamwork, mistrust, and unclear expectations—all contributing to burnout. A lack of managerial training is an issue in today’s workforce. According to a 2023 survey by Oji Life Lab, employees working under first-time managers reported negative impacts like stress or anxiety about going to work (41%) and loss of trust (31%) in the organization due to their pressure.
Lack of Recognition:
When employees feel their work goes unnoticed (or worse, only receives critical feedback), they are likely to feel incompetent, lose a sense of belonging, and lack motivation—factors that can quickly escalate to burnout.
Research by Gallup and Workhuman shows that employees lacking a sense of belonging are up to 12 times more likely to be disengaged at work and five times more likely to look for another job.
Signs of Burnout
Recognizing burnout symptoms can be straightforward, but employees often hide the signs, making it harder to spot, especially in remote employees. Here are some key symptoms of burnout:
Exhaustion:
The most common symptom, whether emotional, mental, or physical exhaustion, can significantly harm an employee’s well-being and performance at work. Burnt-out employees often struggle to find the motivation and focus needed to complete their work effectively.
Absenteeism:
Burnt-out employees tend to take more sick days and may arrive late or seem offline when they should be online. Employees often avoid projects, coworkers, or leaders who may be sources of stress. When unexcused absences become the norm, it may indicate burnout.
Isolation:
Struggling employees may become increasingly isolated. The exhausting nature of burnout often leads previously social individuals to become quiet and withdrawn, trying to retreat from their surroundings. Isolated employees may participate less in meetings, miss or avoid calls, and even become irritable or aggressive to avoid interactions.
Decreased Productivity:
Burnout often leads to employees feeling overwhelmed and stressed, significantly reducing their productivity. Employees may struggle to meet deadlines, quotas, or complete tasks at the rate they once could. Burnout can also lead to decreased work quality due to difficulty concentrating or lack of pride.
Physical Symptoms:
Physical symptoms often manifest in burnt-out individuals, including headaches, panic attacks, nausea, high blood pressure, and abnormal loss of appetite. Burnout can also exacerbate pre-existing health conditions, including chronic pain and heart disease.
Combating employee burnout is a never-ending battle, but leaders must be proactive in reducing its risks and impact. Make your team feel valued and recognized, provide them with multiple support systems, eliminate discrimination, and offer benefits focusing on mental health.
When working with employees experiencing or at risk of burnout, it’s crucial to focus on positivity. Encourage employees to speak openly, validate their work, and ensure they know what they’re doing right. Compassionate leadership will make your team feel equal and respected, while wellness initiatives can encourage employees to improve themselves physically, emotionally, and mentally. Finally, offering flexible working conditions can empower employees to create a better working environment for themselves.
Genuine care for your employees is paramount, and an individual who feels valued is far less likely to suffer from burnout risks.
The Importance of DocSuite HR System in Combating Burnout
DocSuite HR plays a significant role in eliminating burnout by providing tools to track employee performance, analyze data to identify stress and burnout factors, and offer a healthy and conducive work environment. It provides professional development opportunities, work-life balance, and fosters positive communication and interaction between management and employees. Its key features include:
Tracking Employee Performance:
DocSuite HR helps monitor employee performance effectively, allowing early identification of good performance and potential issues.
Data Analysis:
The system analyzes data to identify factors causing stress and burnout among employees, enabling management to take appropriate preventive measures.
Healthy Work Environment:
The system aids companies in improving the work environment by providing tools for managing stress and enhancing overall employee well-being.
Professional Development Opportunities:
DocSuite HR can identify each employee's professional development needs and provide opportunities to develop their skills and increase job satisfaction.
Work-Life Balance:
The system helps companies improve employees' work-life balance by better organizing tasks and scheduling.
Enhanced Communication and Positive Interaction:
The system can be used to foster effective communication between management and employees, encourage positive interaction, and provide support and encouragement at work.