Burnout is a syndrome resulting from workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job, and reduced professional efficacy¹. Burnout can have negative impacts on employees’ health, well-being, productivity, and retention.

According to a recent survey by APA, 79% of American workers experienced work-related stress in the month before the survey, and 44% reported physical fatigue, a 38% increase since 2019². Some occupations, such as teachers and health care workers, are more vulnerable to burnout due to the high demands and challenges of their roles, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic³.

Leaves Utilization as a wellbeing practice

One of the common strategies to prevent or reduce burnout is to take leaves or vacations, which are periods of time when employees are not required to work. Leaves can provide employees with opportunities to rest, recover, and recharge from work-related stressors. Leaves can also help employees to balance their work and personal life, enhance their well-being, and increase their motivation and commitment to their job .

However, not all employees are able to utilize their leaves effectively. Some employees may face barriers or challenges that prevent them from taking leaves, such as heavy workload, tight deadlines, lack of support from managers or colleagues, fear of losing their job or status, or guilt of leaving their work unfinished . Some employees may also misuse their leaves by engaging in activities that are not conducive to their recovery, such as working during their leave, checking emails or messages frequently, or doing household chores or errands .

What else

Anyway, research suggests that leaves utilization alone may not be enough to address the root causes of burnout. A report by McKinsey found that many employers focus on individual-level interventions that remediate symptoms, rather than resolve the causes of employee burnout. For example, offering wellness programs or benefits may not address workplace factors that strongly correlate with burnout, such as toxic behavior, unfair treatment, unreasonable workload, low autonomy, and lack of social support .

Therefore, to effectively tackle the employee burnout epidemic, organizations need to take a systemic approach that focuses on changing the causes rather than the symptoms of poor outcomes. This may include:

– Assessing and improving the organizational culture and climate

– Providing clear expectations and feedback

– Enhancing employee autonomy and empowerment

– Fostering positive relationships and teamwork

– Recognizing and rewarding employee contributions

– Providing adequate resources and support

– Promoting learning and development opportunities

– Encouraging work-life balance and flexibility

The aim is to create healthier and more resilient workplaces that support employee mental health and well-being, as well as organizational performance and sustainability.

References

¹ World Health Organization. (2019). Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: International Classification of Diseases. https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases

²:American Psychological Association. (2022). Burnout and stress are everywhere. Monitor on Psychology, 53(1). https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/01/special-burnout-stress

³ Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2020). Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311

McKinsey & Company. (2021). Addressing employee burnout: Are you solving the right problem? https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/addressing-employee-burnout-are-you-solving-the-right-problem

Visier Inc. (2021). When Vacations Aren’t Enough: The Employee Burnout Epidemic. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/visier/2021/09/01/when-vacations-arent-enough-the-employee-burnout-epidemic/