Burnout is the Workplace Pandemic
It’s time to reform the way we work and truly care for employees’ wellbeing
A recent survey conducted by OnePoll found that the average worker experiences burnout by the age of 32. Think about that: one decade into their career, the average employee has already suffered the agony of burnout in their work. Burnout is not a new issue in the workplace, but surveys like this prove the issue is increasing and if we don’t address it, how we work and live will continue to deteriorate.
The issue with burnout is not only does it impact the employee’s happiness, creativity, and mental/physical health, it has a ripple effect on that employee’s entire social network of family, friends, and community. Thus, it becomes a social problem impacting far more than a company’s bottom line.
While there are many factors in what causes burnout, and how to address the issue, the survey provides further insights into the most common issues for burnout according to employees:
58% believe their work hours are too long
52% say they try to do too much
47% believe they must “always be on” while at work
39% say they don’t take enough days off
37% feel pressure to constantly put in extra work
These are heartbreaking statistics because they are a snapshot of how deep this issue of burnout runs for too many employees. In many cases the global pandemic has exacerbated these issues because many leaders don’t know how to effectively lead a remote team, helping them avoid common pitfalls in achieving healthy work/life balance while working outside the traditional office environment.
We have a huge problems here. How can we solve it?
The poll found that 20% of those surveyed have turned to practices like yoga and mindfulness to help with relaxation. Another 22% want their employer to offer mindfulness and wellness classes. These are encouraging statistics because they indicate the employees know there are two major roots to the burnout issue: working on their internal wellbeing (something they always have control over), and creating high expectations for employers to provide for worker wellbeing.
This is why conscious leadership is so vital to the future of work. If you are a team leader at your workplace, how are you caring for your team and ensuring they have what they need to thrive? How are you working on your own personal development and wellbeing so you can serve others effectively?
Take a look at the chief sources of burnout according to the survey: trying to do too much, working long hours, always “feeling on”, pressure to do more, not taking enough personal time to relax. As a conscious leader, how are you ensuring these things aren’t happening to your team?
If you do lead a team, first consider the example you set for your team. Are you unconsciously putting undue pressure on your team by the way you work and present yourself? Then, consider where you have instituted the right feedback loops with your team to make sure they feel they can authentically share their true feelings without repercussion. Companies like 15Five offer services to help create those feedback loops and ensure everyone in the organization is growing and thriving.
Burnout is a multifaceted problem, but if we don’t start tackling it now, by examining how we structure work and care for employee wellbeing, we will continue to suffer as a society.
If you’re ready to help solve this issue by BE-ing the change in the workplace and world, let’s connect. We need more leaders like you, who are willing to tackle a huge problem by starting with your own team. It takes courage. You can be the courageous leader who makes a significant difference simply by changing the lives of those closest to you right now.
Work happy. Live happy. BE happy.
Meredith
Meredith’s coaching helps conscious leaders step courageously into the future of work. Contact her to develop your conscious leadership and transform your organization into the workplace of the future.
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