08/28/2024

How Organizations Should Rethink the Employee Burnout Crisis

There exist many causes of burnout so there isn't one 'simple fix'

In today's fast-paced work environment, burnout has become an alarming epidemic. Characterized by chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, and decreased productivity, burnout is a silent destroyer of both employee wellbeing and organizational success.

To be clear, there are many causes of burnout—from excessive workload to lack of autonomy to poor communication. However, there are also proven organizational strategies for mitigating burnout and creating a sustainable culture of productivity and retention. For starters, employee incentives and performance milestone rewards are great strategic tools to keep employees motivated and engaged, which ultimately reduces the risk of burnout.

Understanding the Burnout Crisis

Employee burnout is not merely about working long hours; it’s about the sustained stress that employees experience from feeling undervalued, overburdened, and disconnected from the workplace. According to a 2020 Gallup survey, nearly 76 percent of employees experience burnout at least sometimes, with 28 percent reporting that they feel burned out "very often" or "always" at work. This should be an urgent wake-up call for businesses to rethink the way that they approach workforce management and motivate their employees.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Fast Company.