Employee Burnout

The World Health Organization have recognised burnout as a medical condition in its International Classification of Diseases. Burn out is a significant and real issue! In the new classification, the WHO defines burnout as ‘a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed’.

Its not the load that breaks you – it’s the way you carry it.

Burnouts in the workplace can have a domino effect; decreasing productivity and as a result not working to their full potential. Who wins here?

What does workplace burn out look like?

 The syndrome is characterised by three dimensions:

• Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
• Increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job
• Reduced professional efficacy

Tips to avoid / minimise burnout

Support Holidays
Aussies are among the work for taking annual leave with a study by Expedia showing Aussies are taking approximately 14 of their 20 annual leave days. Time off can provide a big boost to an employee’s productivity and job satisfaction.

Allow remote work
Creating a flexible workplace helps eliminate the work ‘rut’. Being able to work remotely (if available) occasionally allows employees to think at their own pace in their own solitude.

Encourage getting up from the desk every hour
Office workers can spend at least 7 hours a day looking into a screen! Regular breaks and walks around the office will lead to a higher level of focus and a more productive day at work.

Written objectives
Communicate with your employees and guide them on where they should be spending their time, setting clear expectations and goals. Companies that had written objectives showed a 700% increase versus those that didn’t.

Bottom line is if you have a great culture, you will have high performing teams!