What Is Work Burnout in 2024?
The term “work burnout” is used to describe the physical, behavioral, and emotional side effects of prolonged workplace stress.
Work burnout can affect anyone, in any role, though it is more common in some professions than others, such as teaching and healthcare.
It is characterized by feelings of inadequacy in your position, resentment toward your work, and exhaustion on both a physical and emotional level.
Workplace burnout can cause a downward spiral of decreased performance and productivity, which in turn causes additional stress and exhaustion, and so on.
Burnout can gradually worsen over weeks or even months. It is difficult to recognize the signs and take action in this fast-paced world, so it is becoming more common.
What Separates Workplace Stress from Burnout?
Stress can be beneficial in small doses because it motivates people to work hard. However, excessive or prolonged stress can be detrimental to a person’s health and well-being.
Burnout and stress may sound similar, but the key distinction is that during times of stress, you can see a way out. You are aware that the pressure on you will lessen and you will feel better if you can just manage to keep up with your workload or finish that major project.
Burnout is the perception that there is no way to escape the pressures and stress of the workplace.
Not a passing condition, but the relentlessness of your daily routine and job situation is what is making you stressed.
Chronic stress can cause burnout, and stress and burnout are related. They do, however, appear differently.
Stress can cause you to work harder and produce more, almost to the point of hyperactivity and hyperarousal. The symptoms of burnout, on the other hand, include a lack of motivation, diminished energy, depression, and exhaustion.
Physical issues like headaches, unexplained aches and pains, and digestive problems can be brought on by both stress and burnout.
For a short while, living with increased anxiety caused by stress is manageable, but eventually your energy “burns out” and you start to feel depressed.
Burnout creeps up on you until you are unable to function, unlike stress, which has more obvious symptoms.
What Leads to Burnout at Work?
Workplace stress that never stops causes burnout, but other elements like situational circumstances, coping mechanisms, and resilience can also affect a person’s likelihood of experiencing burnout.
Burnout in the workplace may be brought on by unhealthy working relationship patterns, such as:
- Intimidation or micromanagement
- Having others hold you to irrational standards
- being undervalued for your efforts
- having a disorganized or poorly run workplace
Stress and eventual burnout can also be brought on by an unreasonable boss and an unending workload.
On the other end of the spectrum, unfulfilling work that is boring or monotonous, or work that you are not suited for, can also lead to burnout because of these feelings.
You’ll be less resilient at work and more likely to experience burnout if your home life is also stressful, perhaps as a result of a toxic relationship, caring responsibilities, or housing problems.
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What Are the Early Symptoms of Burnout at Work?
Knowing what to watch out for can help you recognize the early warning signs of burnout in yourself or someone you know.
The following early warning signs:
A negative attitude is a pessimistic outlook on a job, the workplace, or coworkers; it also manifests as increased irritability and whining at the workplace.
Look out for signs of mental, physical, or emotional exhaustion if you feel tired all the time or appear to be always tired.
Disconnection from the outside world and one’s immediate surroundings manifests as blank stares, sluggish responses, and a desire to stay away from social interactions.
Forgetfulness and a lack of focus – Losing things, being disorganized, struggling to cope with even menial tasks.
Withdrawing from relationships, either at work or at home.
What Are the Five Stages of Work Burnout?
After German-American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger coined the term ‘burnout’ in 1974, subsequent studies have identified that a typical experience of work burnout consists of five stages.
These five stages of work burnout give employees suffering from stress a measure of how close they might be to burnout.
The stages range from feeling job satisfaction and pleasure in a role, to the complete inability to function in everyday life as a result of prolonged stress.
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The Honeymoon Phase
As the name suggests, this stage involves excitement and enthusiasm about a job position.
You are most likely to feel this when you start a new job and have passed through the settling-in period. You feel comfortable and established in your new role and get great job satisfaction.
Your ability to cope with the stresses of the job is high, and you enjoy the new challenges you face.
For many people, this stage has an endpoint, unless they have a remarkable ability to continuously adapt and remain optimistic for a sustained period.
While in this stage, you are likely to be productive, eager to progress and take on more responsibility, creative, and have high energy levels. You take care of your wellbeing, as well as showing commitment to your job.
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Managing Low-Level Stress
The excitement and enthusiasm of the honeymoon phase have worn off, and you are now experiencing highs and lows at work.
You recognize that some days are more stressful than others. Your optimism and enjoyment of the role may decline as you work through the realities of everyday life in your position.
Even at this early stage, you may be experiencing some minor symptoms of stress.
Physical symptoms often include a racing heart, sleep disturbances, tiredness, or even exhaustion.
Your performance at work may also start to be impacted, as you become less efficient, less organized, and begin to lose confidence.
You might avoid making decisions, feel anxious about work or become irritable with your colleagues. These are early warning signs that can be easily missed.
Frequently asked questions about work burnout:
How is work burnout defined?
Work burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands.
What are the main causes of job burnout?
The main causes of job burnout include:
- Excessive workload.
- Lack of control.
- Need for reward and recognition.
- Unfair treatment.
- A non-supportive community.
- Conflicting values between employees and leadership.
What are the most common symptoms of professional burnout?
Common symptoms include exhaustion no matter how much rest is obtained, cynicism, bitterness, detachment from work, feelings of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment, and loss of motivation.
Who is at risk of developing occupational burnout?
Those at greatest risk for burnout include people who value idealism and diligence, have obsessive perfectionist qualities, lack social support, and have work characterized by elements that erode engagement over time.
What percentage of workers experience burnout? Surveys suggest at least 50 percent of U.S. employees have experienced burnout on the job. Some data indicates teachers, healthcare workers, and first responders suffer among the highest burnout rates.
What industries have the highest burnout rates?
Sectors reporting the greatest burnout rates include computer and I.T., healthcare, education, manufacturing, correctional facilities, government offices, video game developers, architecture firms, advertising agencies, and management consultants, according to mental health studies of U.S. industries.
Can workplace burnout lead to depression?
Yes, ongoing burnout that is not addressed often leads to clinical symptoms associated with anxiety and depressive disorders. The prolonged stress can trigger chemical responses in the brain, leading to mood changes.
Does job burnout qualify as a medical diagnosis?
According to the International Classification of Diseases manual, job burnout is not technically recognized as a distinct medical disease. However, it leads to measurable temporary or permanent changes in mental health and brain function.
What are early warning signs of impending workplace burnout?
Look for increased cynicism, declining engagement, growing irritability or tension with colleagues, lack of joy or motivation for typically enjoyable facets of the job, worsening sleep quality, emotional exhaustion after work hours, and general unhappiness with work life.
What health problems are linked with unmanaged work burnout?
Associated health risks include high blood pressure, insomnia, type 2 diabetes, vulnerability to illness/infection due to chronic inflammation and stress, heart disease, fertility issues, premature aging, obesity, stroke, digestive problems, headaches, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
How can employees manage job burnout? Key evidence-backed strategies include:
- Setting boundaries.
- Taking regular vacations and breaks.
- Cultivating workplace relationships.
- Organizing and planning out work.
- Improving time management.
- Increasing physical activity.
- Finding purpose-driven aspects of the role.
- Engaging creativity and advocating for change.
What techniques are effective at preventing employee burnout? Recommended burnout prevention approaches include:
- Taking lunch breaks away from your desk.
- Starting a mindfulness habit like meditation.
- Setting realistic workloads and deadlines.
- Having regular one-on-one meetings with managers.
- Delegating when possible.
- Introducing automation to eliminate redundancies.
What self-care recommendations help combat work stress? Science-backed self-care ideas to fight work stress include:
- Getting regular exercise.
- Cultivating sleep hygiene best practices.
- Calling friends or family members.
- Enjoying relaxing baths.
- Engaging hobbies.
- Spending time outdoors in nature.
- Reading fiction novels.
- Practicing breathing exercises and eating a balanced, nourishing diet.
What organizational changes can address burnout risk factors?
Strategic business interventions include analyzing work processes, workloads, and time demands, building physical movement and micro breaks, offering flexible work arrangements like remote work and flex scheduling, supplying digital collaboration infrastructure, and implementing mental health days.
How should managers handle employee burnout?
Managers play a key role in mitigating burnout by checking in on people’s well-being, monitoring workloads, providing support without micromanaging, helping employees prioritize duties, accommodating schedule changes, suggesting resources, and escalating systemic issues driving exhaustion.
What responsibilities do employees have in managing their burnout?
While organizational factors play a major role, employees must communicate struggles, establish boundaries, seek help when needed, use provided resources, employ stress reduction tactics, take allotted time off, integrate self-care practices, tap social support, and escalate unmanageable demands.
What laws or labor codes cover employee burnout?
Unlike PTSD or mental illness diagnoses, burnout itself is not specially protected by workplace laws regarding accommodations or rights. However, related conditions like anxiety, depression, or physical consequences may provide certain coverage or legal recourse.
Can employees file workers’ compensation claims for work burnout?
While rarely definitive, burnout may contribute to approved workers’ compensation claims if attributed medical records satisfy the “more than 50 percent” causation standard from occupational hazards causing physical injury, disability, or need for significant medical treatment.
When does job burnout warrant taking a leave of absence?
Signs long-term time away from work is warranted include exhaustion preventing basic functioning, repeated significant errors, panic attacks or emotional breakdowns on the job, thoughts of self-harm, substance abuse as a coping mechanism, isolation from colleagues, and drastically declining health markers like weight loss.
What benefits support preventing employee burnout?
Forward-thinking wellness benefits that aid burnout reduction include flexible remote work options, paid mental health days off, expanded healthcare coverage for therapy/counseling services, meditation app subscriptions, massage therapy discounts, sabbatical programs, and a culture focused on psychological safety.
