Signs of Employee Burnout to Look Out for

One of the many tasks that a manager or an employer undertakes is to look out for the well-being of his or her employees and help them avoid employee burnout. One could be transactional and cynical about this, and frame it as protecting one’s investment and bottom line, but it’s really about caring for others. Loving others as you love yourself means doing, where it’s up to you, what you can you help them flourish and be the best they can be.

Whatever else they may be, the people who work for you or are under your authority are human beings made in God’s image. This implies many things, including their inherent dignity and worth. Being in authority over others carries the burden of responsibility and care for them. Just as you’re in charge of others and they are accountable to you, you are ultimately accountable to God for how you discharge your responsibilities (Colossians 4:1).

As an employer or manager, one of the things to look out for among the people who work for you is work burnout.

Some signs of employee burnout

Burnout is the state of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion that can overtake a person when they are overworked or placed under difficult conditions. When someone is stressed for an extended period and they don’t effectively relieve that stress, burnout may result. Some of the consequences of burnout will include people making avoidable mistakes, a lack of enthusiasm, and a decline in creativity.

Some common signs of employee burnout to look out for include the following:

• Cynicism and detachment from work.
• Chronic fatigue and exhaustion.
• Increased absenteeism or tardiness.
• Presenteeism, which is when one is present but not being fully productive.
• Reduced productivity and performance; this may include procrastination.
• Lack of motivation, interest, and enthusiasm for the work.
• Irritability and mood swings, which might result in increased conflict with colleagues.
• Increased incidence of avoidable errors and mistakes.
• A lack of creativity and innovation.
• Withdrawal and absence from team meetings and social interactions.
• Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach problems, and sleep disturbances.
• Increased gossip or negativity in the workplace.
• Lack of accountability and ownership over specific projects and the organization as a whole.
• Decreased job satisfaction and engagement.
• Increased numbers of resignations and high turnover.

It can be easy for an employer to dismiss these signs or to chalk them up to someone simply having a bad attitude, or to generational differences. Burnout is real, however, and it’s important to understand how and why it happens to others or could happen to you.

Reasons why employee burnout happens

There may be many different reasons why employee burnout happens, and keeping an eye out for these could help protect the people you work with. Burnout can happen because of employees being micromanaged, or if there are unclear expectations laid upon them.

An organization with poor feedback or where the goals are vague can potentially lead to burnout because people don’t know whether they are doing good work or what they’re working toward.

Additionally, when people are chronically overloaded with work or don’t have growth opportunities it could also lead to burnout. People not only need training for the roles they fill but having dynamic roles and a clear career path is also helpful. People also need support and resources to complete the tasks assigned to them. A lack of recognition, in addition to poor feedback, can also lead to burnout.

Burnout can also happen in the workplace because of the stress of constant notifications and the pressure to be constantly connected and respond to communication. An unhealthy work environment, such as a noisy workplace or one where there are no well-being initiatives can also see burnout occur. Ineffective leadership or favoritism, as well as the unaddressed personal issues of an employee, can also undermine one’s well-being, leading to burnout.

Preventing burnout and managing it when it happens

If you notice the signs of burnout in yourself or others, take active steps to address it as well as promote a healthier and more productive workplace. Employees can be helped by having clear boundaries that encourage a better work-life balance, for instance not sending work communications after hours. Clear communication of goals and expectations, and avoiding the practice of “hey-hanging” can also help lower employee anxieties and stress.

Taking steps such as encouraging open conversations, providing resources for stress management, offering support, and recognizing accomplishments can also make a marked difference in workplace culture. Addressing any workload and work environment concerns will also help to foster a more positive environment in which employee well-being is considered, which can affect organizational performance.

If you have leadership over others, you and your management team could make use of executive coaching to help nurture effective management techniques and enhance your communication in the organization. Coaching can help you be more aware of your management style, and it can help you understand your values as well as set clear goals that can then be communicated to others.