Burnout in the workplace is a persistent issue that so many workers face in their daily professional lives. This is when employees start to feel heavily exhausted, both physically and mentally, due to a long period of unmanaged stress. It can accompany feelings of detachment from what they are doing, leading to a decrease in productivity. This can cost companies about $3,400 for every $10,000 of an employee’s salary.
According to a survey conducted by Insightful, 68% of employees felt burnout in 2024. This shows that there is much to be done within organizations that want to ensure that their employees are able to give their best performance at work. In this guide, we will review what causes and signs of burnout, as well as what employers can do to prevent it within their workplaces.
What causes burnout in the workplace?
Understanding what causes burnout is essential in order to learn to prevent it. There are several different factors that go into burnout, and they may be different for each employee. However, here are a few causes that typically lead to these feelings of stress and exhaustion:
Being overworked: Sometimes, employers do not realize that they are putting too much work on their employees at one time. This is in addition to unrealistic deadlines and long hours of work without a chance for a break and time to disconnect. It can be difficult for employees to feel like they can speak up about having too much work without repercussions, leading to long periods of unmanageable stress.
Negative workplace culture: A toxic workplace can be due to a variety of reasons, whether it is management or fellow employees that contribute to an unsupportive environment. Without a culture built on collaboration and respect, and without more employee recognition and work-life balance options, employees can start to develop feelings of dread as soon as they enter the office.
Poor communication: Without a proper line of communication between employees and management, it can be difficult to assume deadlines and receive necessary feedback. This uncertainty can lead to anxiety and stress, which contributes to burnout.
Lack of independence: While sometimes management is not present to provide feedback, the other end of the spectrum exists those that are referred to as micromanagers. This is when employers dictate every small thing about an employee’s work, leaving them with no sense of flexibility or freedom to make decisions. This frustration can cause large amounts of stress and disengagement from their work.
What are the signs of burnout in employees?
Burnout can show itself in employees in different ways, and some of them are not always obvious. It is crucial for managers to pay attention to changes in employee behavior and even look for these signs directly.
Change in attitude and behavior: Employees that are struggling with burnout are bound to have shifts in behavior. This can be shown as a negative attitude – unexpected frustration, irritability, and sarcasm – that is not typical for the individual. They may also not be as active in meetings or other collaborative activities and become more isolated.
Lack of focus and signs of fatigue: Burnout may cause employees to become distracted easily and lose focus on their work. Stress can have several consequences to our physical health, shown in increased fatigue that might make employees take sick days or appear tired at work.
Shifts in performance: High amounts of stress and exhaustion can lead to missed deadlines and lower productivity. An individual dealing with burnout might produce work of lower quality than what is normally expected from a high-performing employee. On the other hand, sometimes employees will work longer hours as a result of excess stress, leading to worsening exhaustion.
How can employers prevent burnout?
Preventing burnout in the workplace is not something that is quick and easy, but something that requires an employer’s full attention and dedication. With these actionable steps from leadership, organizations can build a healthier workplace for their employees.
Encourage open communication: Communication in the workplace, between all members of the organization, is key. Fostering an environment for open communication without fear of retaliation or repercussions is necessary for pinpointing any issues before they result in employees experiencing burnout. Any feedback provided by employees should be addressed and used to make necessary changes.
Balance workloads: It is important to allocate work properly and not set unrealistic deadlines that can increase feelings of stress and frustration. Leaders should be mindful of giving too much work to one employee instead of balancing the work across the team evenly. When employees have a reasonable amount of work that they are comfortable with completing within a given time frame, then they will also have more room for enthusiasm and engagement. This leads to a better performance overall.
Focus on a positive workplace culture: Ensure that employees receive recognition for their hard work as a part of building a positive work environment. Encourage collaboration rather than competition, and set aside times to foster it in team activities and discussions. Emphasize the importance of work-life balance and disconnecting during necessary breaks. Everyone needs time to relax and recharge in order to prevent burnout from taking hold.
The experience of burnout within Information Technology
Every industry faces unique challenges that can contribute to increased stress and exhaustion, especially the IT industry. Studies show that about 54% of IT workers feel overwhelmed in their current job positions. Burnout in IT employees can be due to the always evolving nature of technology and needing to stay up-to-date with the latest trends. High-stress environments, long hours, and always being on-call to handle IT problems contribute to the risk of burnout.
Offering mental health assistance and encouraging reasonable work-life balance is crucial for every worker, though especially in IT where disconnecting can be difficult. With actionable steps from employers, burnout can certainly be prevented and their business can continue to thrive.
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