The World Health Organisation defines burnout as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”.
It has become increasingly prevalent as the lines between work and home have become more blurred and the UK’s economic problems have made life harder for businesses.
In July 2023 the Guardian reported that “More than half of workers (55%) reported that work had become more intense and demanding” according to TUC research.
And in May statistics from the ONS (Office for National Statistics) revealed a rise in the numbers of workers not seeking work for health reasons. It blamed the uplift on “conditions related to mental health, particularly in the young”.
Burnout saps the energy, increases stress and sufferers lose the ability and energy to effectively meet the demands of their jobs.
As a business owner why should you do something to help employees to avoid burnout?
Well as the above statistics indicate it could make recruitment more difficult.
Burnout in employees also reduces productivity.
You can use a wellbeing plan to identify what good wellbeing looks like for you, as well as what it looks like when things aren’t so good. You can also use it to encourage employees to assess their own wellbeing.
You could also introduce stress risk assessments for identifying a risk, then explore ways of removing or reducing the risk.
Most importantly, communicating these with employees and engaging them in working together on ways to minimise stress as well as looking out for each other’s mental wellbeing could help to minimise the chances of burnout before they can take a firm hold.