What’s Behind the Rise of Employee Burnout?

Organisational changes are key to preventing the growing number of workers with chronic workplace stress, according to Monash University research.

It found that individual and environmental changes need to be considered together in redesigning jobs so that workers have more control over their output.

Margaret Lee, a PhD researcher in the Monash Business School, explained that it is critical to turn business apathy towards reorganisation into motivation for change.

In the modern era, where smartphones and emails keep people occupied 24/7, she said that it has become increasingly difficult for people to ‘switch off’ from their working lives.

The issue is so critical that the World Health Organisation recognised burnout as an occupational phenomenon, said Lee.

“Despite the rise of digital nomads and increasingly flexible work practices, many organisations still remain wedded to the idea that a present worker is a productive worker.

“Many multinationals are slashing their work-from-home policies citing a lack of productivity,” Lee said.

“People who are burnt out are not just physically exhausted; they become withdrawn, cynical and no longer believe in their ability to set and achieve goals.

“This is the real impact of workplace productivity, not work-from-home strategies.

“Workplace stress is inevitable and, in some cases, can be healthy and motivating.”

However, burnout represents a state of persistent stress that slowly degrades an individual’s resources – their resilience, identity and self-belief to the point of harm, she said.

Burnout and exhaustion don’t arise solely from excessive workload or office hours, and Lee said other factors include: job autonomy; the fairness of how decisions are made within one’s team and workplace; social support in the office; reward or recognition for efforts; and belief in organisational values.

The burden of recovery is also placed on individuals to manage their own stress through small lifestyle changes, well-timed holidays, and exercise and mindfulness interventions.

“Burnout doesn’t discriminate, therefore it’s essentially important that interventions are put in place by businesses nationally to boost professional self-belief and prevent burnout from becoming a national epidemic,” Lee said.

Article originally published by the Australian Institute of Health and Safety.