Employee burnout – signs to look out for

In the modern world of work, employees and employers are more conscious of issues relating to health and wellbeing.

It doesn’t matter what industry a person is employed in; workplace stress can affect everyone at some point.

To some extent, employees are in control of their own happiness and wellbeing, both at work and outside of work. However, more employers are realising the benefits of healthy and engaged employees and the costs of employee burnout.

In the current climate, we are seeing companies adopting principles and practices to look after their staff more effectively. One of the main things to look out for – before it happens! – is employee burnout. In this article, WorkBuzz helps to explain some of the issues relating to employee burnout and what employers can do to avoid them?

What is Employee Burnout?

Employee burnout is a state of physical, mental, or emotional exhaustion caused by work-related stress. It often leads to decreased productivity, job dissatisfaction, and health problems. Employee burnout is especially problematic for employers because it can lead to higher employee sickness and staff turnover rates. Employees who are suffering from, or are on the road to, burnout are also not able to work as efficiently or effectively as employees who are happy and engaged at work. The physical, mental, and emotional impact of burnout can have a profound impact on teams and workplace morale.

It is true that employee burnout is a serious problem that can affect the entire workforce. If there are wider issues within the organisation, then burnout can make it even more difficult to retain and attract new staff.

What Should Employers Look Out For?

Employers may notice a reduction in an employee’s productivity levels, which can be an early sign of them suffering from workplace stress. As burnout develops, employees may be late or absent more often. They may also be taking an increasing amount of time off sick, without any obvious signs of illness.

It’s common for employees struggling with burnout to have trouble getting along with their co-workers too. Conflicts between workers can create tension and increase stress levels, further perpetuating the issues that drive burnout in the first place. Burnout affects everybody in different ways, and it is up to managers to identify and act on any potential problems.

In some cases, it can be easy to spot the signs of burnout. Employees who are suffering from stress or fatigue typically lose enthusiasm for their work. They may become apathetic, bored, or tired while working. There will likely be a drop in productivity and a lower quality of work or missed deadlines. If you notice that employees produce lower quality work more frequently, then it may be a good time to find out what they are thinking about their role

What Can Companies Do To Avoid Burnout In The Workforce?

Ensuring people feel valued is one of the most important ways to avoid burnout.  Employees who are always working but aren’t given any information about how they’re doing or what progress they are making, are more likely to burnout. Schedule regular performance reviews to keep employees engaged and focused and to ask how they feel about their workload, even if there are no major visible problems. It is always nice for an employee to hear praise and that they are doing well after all.

Encouraging employees to take breaks is a great way to reduce the chances of workplace fatigue. Also, when setting deadlines, it is best to ensure that the workload is manageable because unrealistic targets and time pressures can lead employees to becoming frustrated and reduce productivity and morale. Ultimately, employees are more likely to burn out if they feel like their personal lives suffer due to work. Promoting a healthy work-life balance can be a great way to prevent this from happening in a workforce.

Conclusion

Employee burnout is a serious problem that can harm an organisation on multiple fronts. It’s important to be aware of its signs and causes so that you can take steps to prevent it from happening to your place of work. With WorkBuzz employees engagement platform, employers can get real-time feedback from their employees relating to how they feel about their work, and their employer. Employers can then use this information to reduce the likelihood that burnout will impact their employees.