Think Your Employees Aren’t Burnt Out? Think Again

If you want your business to succeed, you need to take care of your employees, but businesses sometimes let this important task slip in the throes of the day-to-day. Deloitte estimates that around 8 out of every 10 wage workers show signs of burnout. So the question then becomes… What are you doing about it?

Understanding Employee Burnout

Getting annoyed by your work is a human characteristic, and if you ever encounter someone who says otherwise, they’re lying to you.

The fact of the matter is that if something is important to you, then it’s going to cause you physical, mental, or emotional exhaustion at least some of the time. Employees are no exception to this, and they are just as susceptible to these stressors as anyone. While everyone has a differing tolerance for burnout, employees who suffer from it might indicate they are frustrated or tired from their role, or they are unhappy with their rate of pay in comparison to the work they do.

But what does burnout look like for your average employee?

The Warning Signs of Burnout

Here are some of the most common indicators of burnout:

• Fatigue - The state of tiredness, regardless of how much sleep or rest someone gets.
• Cynicism - The state of being negative toward your work and work environment. 
• Poor performance - Struggling to complete assigned tasks.
• Emotional problems - Being short, anxious, or overwhelmed with your work experience.
• Physical problems - Frequently feeling ill and missing work.

The Causes for Burnout

There is no clear-cut answer for this, as burnout is multi-faceted, and different parts of your employees’ lives might intersect to contribute to this problem.

For example, some employees struggle with financial problems and feel like they are unfairly compensated for the amount of work they put in. This is especially true for those who have issues with finances outside of the office, and the employer is an easy scapegoat for their problems. Over time, these frustrations fester and can lead to poor performance.

The long and short of it is that burnout is caused by stressors, plain and simple, whether it’s something like poor pay, unclear expectations, or large amounts of work with no effort to lighten the load on the employer’s part.

Do Your Part to Mitigate Burnout

As human beings, stress is part of the hand we’re dealt, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything to address real issues with your business.

A little effort on your part can go a long way toward resolving issues that lead to burnout. Here are three noteworthy ways you can take a proactive stance toward preventing burnout and healing your employees’ relationship with work:

1. Offer support  - One of the best things you can do for your employees is offer them support regardless if they are burnt out or not. There are stress management programs and online counseling services that can really help your employees’ mental health. 
2. Support work/life balance - Things like paid time off and flexible work schedules can go a long way toward keeping people focused on their work while they are at work. 
3. Clear communication - Many people get burnt out when they don’t get the recognition they think they deserve for doing good work for a business. If you regularly communicate your appreciation for good work, it can stave off employee burnout because they are getting the positive reinforcement they desire and it keeps them motivated.

Unsurprisingly, technology can help you address many of the issues above. To learn more about how your business can implement technology that keeps stress at low levels, give us a call at (217) 428-6449.