All of us have experienced that feeling of being full of energy and looking forward to work. Monday morning is not the worst part of the week. And then there’s the day when just the thought of a workday or even a whole week discourages us from getting out of bed. This can be a sign of burnout syndrome, which is an increasingly discussed topic today. Although burnout syndrome is often seen as a trend or an excuse, it is a real problem that can affect any of us.
If someone suffers from burnout syndrome, it’s not that they are just tired, fed up with work and demotivated. Real burnout is much more dangerous than the common loss of motivation that everyone experiences from time to time.
According to the World Health Organization, burnout syndrome is job-related, the result of chronic stress in the workplace that has not been successfully managed. It involves persistent emotional exhaustion, psychological detachment or negativity, and feelings of ineffectiveness. All of these add up to a condition where work-related stressors are not effectively managed by routine rest during work breaks, weekends or other time off.
Burnout in the workplace has three dimensions:
A number of experts have commented on the topic of burnout. Mindy Shoss, professor of psychology at the University of Central Florida, says: “There are many potential causes of burnout in today’s workplaces. Excessive workload, low levels of support from management, little ability to influence workplace issues, lack of recognition or rewards for effort, interpersonal toxic relationships, or an unfair work environment with low levels of psychological safety. Add to this the insecurity and fears that prevail in today’s society, and it is no wonder that burnout syndrome is increasingly common.”
Burnout syndrome really isn’t just a buzzword. It is a serious phenomenon that is related to the reality of work. Decades of research show a link between burnout in the workplace and a number of negative consequences.
According to leading scientific research, employees who experience true burnout in the workplace have a substantially increased risk of these problems:
In addition, workplace burnout can impair short-term memory, attention and other cognitive processes necessary for daily work activities (Gavelin et al., 2022).
Burnout has consequences not only for the individual but also for the effectiveness of the organization. Workers suffering from burnout experience a decrease in productivity, may be less innovative and more likely to make mistakes. If this trend spreads throughout the organisation, it can have a serious negative impact not only on productivity but also on service quality and the bottom line.
Dr. Christina Maslach, one of the leading experts on burnout in the workplace, emphasizes that the solution to this problem cannot be found only at the individual or, conversely, at the level of the entire organization. Instead, both levels need to be examined.
Is it necessary to reframe the focus from “who” to “why”? It is not enough to focus on the employee who has the problem. It is necessary to perceive the working conditions that are the source of the problem. This is why the relationship between the workplace and the person is so important. Is there a match between the needs of the employee and the environment in which he or she works?
What employers can do:
What can the employees themselves do?
Employers and employees together can:
