Work burnout is a painfully real experience for many, affecting everyone from frontline employees to Company Directors and CEOs. No one is exempt from burnout's stealthy creep, as we often overlook signs of an unhealthy work culture and imbalanced lives.

In Mental Health UK’s recent Burnout Report, it was revealed that 1 in 5 employees took time off work in the past year due to stress or pressure. Another study found that a shocking 70% of employees reported experiencing symptoms of burnout.

Is this sustainable? As arguments for organisations to adopt more sustained approaches to business gain traction, it’s crucial to center human sustainability in the workplace. How can businesses achieve profitability and productivity goals without compromising the well-being of their people?

I recently posed this question at a Future Work Technology and Sustainability symposium. Below is an edited summary provided by the session facilitators, synthesised using an AI tool.

Key Issues Contributing to Burnout

From the lived experience of burnout, the following key issues emerged:

1. Meaningless Monitoring and Surveillance: Excessive monitoring fosters distrust and anxiety among employees, contributing to stress.
2. Deliverables and Constant Firefighting: The relentless focus on deliverables and emergency responses leaves employees feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
3. Lack of Control: Employees feeling they have no control over their work leads to frustration and burnout.
4. Passionate but Overworked: Passionate employees are often the most susceptible to burnout as they may overextend themselves in pursuit of excellence.
5. Psychological Safety: A lack of psychological safety prevents employees from expressing concerns and seeking help, exacerbating stress and burnout.

The Impact of Burnout

The WHO defines burnout as chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterised by emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and a lack of accomplishment.

Here’s how this can manifest in the workplace:

• Cognitive Dissonance: The gap between what employees are expected to do and what they feel capable of doing creates significant stress.
• Physical and Psychological Burnout: Prolonged stress affects both physical health (e.g., heart problems, insomnia) and psychological health (e.g., anxiety, depression).

Strategies for Addressing Burnout

1. Creating Human Space: Encourage a work environment where employees feel safe to be themselves and express their needs. Promote self-awareness and the importance of knowing oneself.
2. Delegate and Empower: Empower employees by delegating tasks and giving them more control over their work, reducing feelings of being overwhelmed.
3. Use Technology Wisely: Implement technology to streamline tasks and reduce workload, supporting a healthy work culture.
4. Foster Trust and Values: Build a culture of trust and align the company’s values with those of the employees to create a supportive work environment.
5. Understand Your Employees: Truly know your team’s strengths, weaknesses, and personal circumstances to tailor support and prevent burnout.
6. Focus on Performance and Objectives: Ensure performance metrics and objectives are realistic and achievable, avoiding unnecessary layers of reports that add to the burden.

Reducing The Risk of Workplace Burnout

• Examine Everything: Regularly review workloads, processes, and the overall work environment to eliminate unnecessary stressors.
• Real Experience: Base decisions on the real experiences of employees rather than assumptions, identifying blind spots and addressing deep-seated issues.
• Pre-empt Burnout: Proactively recognize early signs of burnout and take steps to mitigate stressors.
• Psychological Safety: Implement measures to ensure psychological safety, allowing employees to speak up without fear of retribution.
• “Dying for a Paycheck”: Reflect on work culture and practices to ensure they are sustainable and employees aren’t “dying for a paycheck.” Strive for a balance where employees can thrive without compromising their health.

Burnout is a silent epidemic that undermines organisational sustainability. To achieve productivity and profitability without compromising well-being, companies must prioritize the human factor. By creating a supportive environment, leveraging technology wisely, and fostering a culture of trust and empowerment, businesses can ensure their employees remain healthy, motivated, and productive.

Kai-Nneka Townsend is a Leadership Burnout & Resilience Coach and author. When you are ready, she can help you with:

Manager Resilience and Burnout Prevention programs for companies

One-to-one coaching for high-achieving women

Mentoring for high-achieving women ready for their next level of success

Group coaching - your own private circle of high-achieving women to learn from and grow with

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