Burnout Statistics (and What You Can Do About It)
Let's talk about burnout. Whether you’ve experienced it or not, it impacts us all–at work and at home. And while the impact of burnout is resoundingly negative, we're here to shed some light on the issue while providing some ideas and suggestions for keeping burnout at bay as well as a few helpful resources!
Burnout Defined
So, what exactly is burnout and how can learning burnout statistics help us? According to the World Health Organization, burnout is “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” The WHO elaborates a bit further, naming the three core symptoms of fatigue, cynicism, and reduced efficacy, and restricting the term to occupational stress (as opposed to stress from other areas of life). Dr. Ben Wigert, Gallup’s Director of Research and Strategy for Workplace Management, also emphasizes the last six words: “It doesn’t mean that you simply have stress in the workplace, but it’s actually affecting how you feel and behave.”
Now, I’ll go out on a limb here and assume that no employer wants to find “fatigued, cynical, and ineffective” on a resume, so let’s take a look at some burnout statistics from Gallup to see how serious it really is:
Global Burnout: Did you know that 28% of workers around the world report feeling burnt out very often or always? That's more than one in four people feeling the burn!
Unplugging Woes: With the rise of remote work, 33% of employees are finding it difficult to "unplug" from their work when they're off the clock. Remember when 5 PM used to mean the end of your workday?
Burning the Bottom Line: Burnout has a very real and tangible impact on the organization itself. “Poor wellbeing affects your organization's bottom line through lower productivity, higher turnover, higher absenteeism and higher medical costs (due to preventable conditions) and can cost organizations 15%-20% of total payroll in voluntary turnover costs, on average, due to burnout."
Dazed and Confused: In the U.S. alone, 72% of employees experience burnout sometimes, often, or always. That's a whole lot of people feeling overwhelmed, and we don't want you to be one of them!
Yikes. Let’s return to that WHO definition from earlier. Dr. Wigert’s emphasis on the last six words (“that has not been successfully managed”) got me thinking. Whatever the intent, I see this as hopeful. As far as I know, every job contains some level or degree of stress. However, our ability to manage that stress is the real differentiator.
What Organizations Can Do
Of course, there’s plenty of work to be done on the individual level. But organizations need to keep in tune with their employees and create environments that are conducive to mitigating stress. Let’s take a look at some ways to do just that:
Promote Work-Life Balance
Encourage employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Discourage excessive overtime and ensure that employees can disconnect from work when they're off the clock. Avoid sending work-related emails or messages during non-working hours.
Open Communication
Foster an environment of open communication. Encourage employees to voice their concerns, provide feedback, and express their needs without fear of reprisal. Regular check-ins and feedback sessions can help identify and address stressors. And remember this goes both ways: offer constructive feedback on performance and provide opportunities for improvement. Constructive feedback helps employees understand expectations and progress.
Clear Expectations
Ensure that employees have clear job descriptions, roles, and responsibilities. Ambiguity and unrealistic expectations can contribute to stress. Further, develop effective conflict resolution mechanisms to address interpersonal conflicts promptly. Similarly, ensure that workplace policies and procedures are transparent and fair. Employees should understand how decisions are made and the rationale behind them.
Team Building and Supportive Culture
Foster a sense of community and teamwork. Encourage collaboration and provide opportunities for team-building activities. Build them around recognizing and appreciating employees' efforts and achievements. Feeling valued and acknowledged boosts morale and a supportive work culture can buffer the effects of stress.
Provide Mental Health Support
Offer mental health resources and support, such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) or access to counseling services. Normalize discussions about mental health and reduce the stigma associated with seeking help.
By implementing these strategies, companies can create a workplace environment that actively mitigates stress and supports the well-being of their employees, ultimately leading to a more engaged and productive workforce. So, let's make burnout a thing of the past! You've got this, and we've got your back. Stay positive, stay mindful, and keep rocking your life with balance and well-being at the forefront.
For some individual tips on avoiding burnout:
Listen to your body
Take a 15-minute break every day
And if you’ve already burned out, do it right!