The World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially classified burnout as a medical diagnosis defined as “a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.".
As we bid farewell to the trenches of Covid-19, another epidemic has slowly crept up in the workplace: burnout. With the rise of ever-changing work demands, stressors and working models came the resultant rise of professional stress, extreme fatigue and the occupational phenomenon WHO classified medical syndrome of burnout.
Burnout has 4 symptoms:
Perhaps the biggest question is: what changes have brought about the increase in the number of employees who are experiencing symptoms of burnout? In 2023, a staggering rise in poor mental health was evident as 70% of the C-suite considered quitting to search for a job that responded to their mental health and well-being, Forbes reported.
The workplace has become more fast-paced, dynamic, complex and demanding with technological advancement. In fact, the entire notion of a workplace has completely shifted in recent years. Today a workplace can be in a coffee shop, at a co-working shared space, in a traditional office or in the confines of your home; each with its own set of rules and demands. This increased flexibility is indeed a double-edged sword. Many argue that the line between work hours and personal hours has become so blurred that we never “switch off”; a suggested leading cause of extreme fatigue and burnout.
Research by psychologist Christina Maslach and several collaborators suggests that burnout is a three-component syndrome that arises in response to chronic stressors on the job. These 3 components are:
Dr Maslach shares more insights on burnout and how to deal with it in a podcast titled: “Why we’re burned out and what to do about it” (click to listen), episode 152 which was published on the American Psychological Association podcast called Speaking of Psychology.
As the age-old saying goes: prevention is better than cure. Situational changes have repeatedly been one of the main contributors to burnout syndrome. Changes in job, lifestyle, environment and health are all factors to consider. Prioritising self-care may be our best solution. Good quality sleep, good diet, exercise, relaxation, and time with your loved ones are to be applauded more than wearing burnout as a badge of honour in 2024.
“Stress levels among workers have skyrocketed by 57%, and a significant portion of it is attributed to the “always-on” work culture.” - Benjamin Goss in “The Silent Epidemic: Employee Burnout in 2023”
We have fooled ourselves into an instant response culture where we are expected to reply to emails immediately, get tasks done in near-impossible timelines and, as a result, struggle to disconnect from work; even outside of working hours. Coupled with this is the glamourisation of burnout culture witnessed across social media platforms where success is equated to being constantly busy, popularised by the #corporategirlie trend. A shift in perspective is necessary to prioritise self-care, healthy habits and to set effective work boundaries.
There is no quick remedy for burnout. However, not addressing burnout can ultimately impact the course of an employee’s career. In Gallup’s Wellbeing at Work, authors Jim Clifton and Jim Harter present 5 burnout prevention action items.
When one team member suffers under the strain of burnout, the entire team will feel the impact. The collective consequence is far greater than a few missed deadlines, causing a clear shift in overall energy that will impact the work environment and team morale. More than individual employees being affected by burnout; we are also witnessing business impacts as companies are said to be spending 20% more on healthcare-related expenses, all traceable back to burnout.
41% of workers who do a high amount of remote work say they feel high levels of stress “always” or “most of the time”, suggesting a strong correlation between burnout, an increase in flexibility in the workplace and the post-pandemic work climate. With effective strategies employed collaboratively by both employees and businesses, there are ways to combat and mitigate the chances of developing occupational syndrome burnout.
