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Causes of burnout
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Educational webinars
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Survey
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How to prevent?
What is occupational burnout and how does it manifest itself?
The WHO defines occupational burnout as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been effectively resolved. The WHO describes three dimensions of occupational burnout:
- feeling of emotional and physical exhaustion
- Increased mental distance from work, lack of commitment, a sense of cynicism and meaninglessness about the job
- A lowering of the evaluation of one's own achievements and a decrease in efficiency
Occupational burnout is otherwise known as the body's response to stress, the source of which is the work situation.
What are the main causes of job burnout?
Unfair treatment
When employees do not trust their manager, teammates or supervisor, the psychological bond that provides a sense of meaningful work is broken. Conversely, when employees are treated fairly and with respect, relationships form more quickly and employees gain mental toughness.
Work overload
Employees who always feel overburdened are twice as likely to experience job burnout (Gallup, 2020). Even the best employees lose hope in the face of an overwhelming workload. However, the number of working hours is not crucial; employees who are engaged and flexible tend to work more, but rate their well-being better (Gallup, 2020).
Communication problems
When supervisors fail to communicate key information to employees, their work becomes frustrating. Managers should clearly explain expectations about roles, processes and the impact of an employee's work on the company as a whole. When expectations and responsibilities are inconsistent or unclear, employees can become frustrated and exhausted trying to figure out what the manager wants from them.
Lack of support
When an employee is left alone with a problem, he or she slips into a spiral of stress, frustration and, ultimately, his or her condition worsens. The belief that employees' mental problems are their private affair is challenged by our research (HearMe), which shows that among the 15 most common problems reported by employees, as many as 10 are directly related to the workplace.
Is professional burnout affecting you?
Educational webinars
How to prevent burnout in the workplace?
Tasks for managers
Let go of micromanagement
Letting go of micromanagement requires efficient teamwork, but also simple trust. Instead of controlling your employees by installing applications on their computers that measure their work, try to simply trust them and see what the results will be.
Listen to your people
Set regular check-ins with employees on your calendar. Ask questions and actively listen. Create a safe space where you don't resort to quick judgments, but try to see another person's perspective. The best managers show that they care about employees by investing their time and attention in them. They notice real people in them - they celebrate successes, mentor, give constructive feedback, evaluations, but most of all respect.
Emphasize the point of doing the work
Employees are much less likely to experience burnout when they understand how their actions connect to the company's mission or goal (quarterly, yearly). This makes their work important. People don't want to work just for a paycheck; they want to see meaning in what they do. Managers need to do more than just point the finger at the company's mission written on the building, they need to show employees how their commitment and effort makes a difference.
Count your opinions
Managers should actively encourage employees to share opinions and ideas. When employees know that their opinions are welcome and matter, then they feel important and begin to take more responsibility. This sense of ownership (ownership) reduces burnout because it gives employees a sense of control over their work.
Take care of yourself!
It's been a difficult two years. Uncertainty, dynamically changing reality, market, working methods, and your team looked to you for support.... you must be tired/weary. Remember that strong/you, is a strong team. Take care of yourself first - your energy, motivation and resilience, and then take care of others.
Tips for employees
Don't give up on your vacation
Many of us "forget" to use our vacation days, and they are essential to rest, recharge our batteries and return to work with better energy and higher efficiency. Let's remember, rest is part of success.
Try to finish work on time
This is especially important if you work from home. Introduce rituals to mark the end of work, such as putting your laptop in a business drawer so you can't see it, giving a happy shout or turning on your favorite song.
Find relief with exercise
While it may be the last thing on our minds when we're burned out, movement is a great remedy for stress and tense moments. Walk, dance, shout, practice yoga, run, play hide-and-seek with the kids, anything that tires your body and frees your head will help.
Talk to someone frankly
Our immediate network of family and friends is a very strong support when we notice a drop in mood. Share your thoughts and concerns with someone you trust. Relatives often feel great satisfaction when they can help us.
Ask for help when you need it
When you feel that it's just too much, you're very tired/weary, you don't see a way out, and this feeling lasts for more than 2 weeks, seek help from a psychologist or therapist. You deserve it.
Professional burnout is like a gradual battery drain
- When we don't take care of the right balance between work and rest, we gradually lose our energy and motivation until we end up feeling completely burned out and powerless.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Professional burnout - what does it actually mean?
The World Health Organization defines occupational burnout as an occupational syndrome caused by chronic stress in the workplace.
Energy, productivity and motivation decline in people with occupational burnout. It becomes increasingly difficult for them to fulfill their work responsibilities; over time, psychosomatic symptoms appear. The Gallup-Workhuman report found that 25% of employees feel burnout at work "very often" or "always."
What are the most common symptoms of job burnout?
The most common symptoms of burnout can be divided into five groups. It usually begins with exhaustion (physical and emotional), followed by the following symptoms - different for each person.
- Physical: chronic fatigue, headaches, sleep problems, digestive problems, sexual dysfunction and more.
- Affective (related to the emotional sphere): Anxiety, depressive moods, increased irritability and feelings of frustration, reduced ability to regulate emotions.
- Cognitive - low self-esteem (especially in the context of the work performed), memory impairment and difficulty concentrating, a sense of lack of meaning in the work performed, cynicism.
- Behavioral (behavior-related): withdrawal from relationships, aggressive behavior, reduced efficiency, increased procrastination tendency.
- Motivational - loss of enthusiasm for work, lack of sense of efficacy and adequacy, significant decrease in motivation to perform duties.
How long does professional burnout last?
Lack of appropriate specialized intervention during the onset of symptoms of occupational burnout can last up to several years, which can result in the development of a chronic state of fatigue and depression.
It can take several months to more than a year to return to optimal condition. The duration of treatment for burnout depends on the state of health of the burned-out employee and the type of help he or she is receiving. Therapy or coaching can greatly facilitate the process of treating burnout, as it helps uncover the causes of burnout and create a plan of action.
Is professional burnout grounds for L4?
Occupational burnout is not grounds for issuing an L4, as it is not classified as a disease entity (it is a disease syndrome according to the ICD-11 classification). However, it is important to keep in mind that the absence of burnout from the list of diseases does not mean that it will be impossible to obtain sick leave for other work-related symptoms and conditions. It is the doctor who decides whether to issue sick leave and includes the correct disease code.
As of today, a doctor cannot enter occupational burnout as the main reason for sick leave, because there is no disease code assigned to it.
How to treat professional burnout?
Therapy and coaching are effective tools to treat the symptoms of burnout and prevent its recurrence. For those suffering from occupational burnout, rest and recuperation are recommended above all. During therapy/coaching, you can learn to recognize your own needs, meet them and avoid behaviors and attitudes that promote burnout.
Intervention for burnout is most often based on two forms of action: psychotherapy and appropriately selected drug treatment.
Causes of professional burnout
Personality, interpersonal and organizational factors influence occupational burnout. People who are under prolonged stress are especially prone to this syndrome. Additional causes of burnout are most often work overload, toxic organizational culture, communication problems and unfair treatment of employees in the organization.
I notice symptoms of professional burnout in myself - what to do?
Whether you are just recognizing the symptoms of impending burnout in yourself, or you are going through a crisis, it is worth contacting a specialist: a psychologist or psychiatrist. Avoid self-diagnosis. Symptoms of burnout can be similar to those of various mental and physical illnesses - a specialist will help find the causes of your condition, find solutions to problems and rebuild your resilience.
Is occupational burnout a disease?
June 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) has included occupational burnout in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). However, she did not classify occupational burnout as a disease entity or medical condition. Although occupational burnout actually made its way into Chapter 24, titled "The Burnout. "Factors affecting health or contact with health care" was not considered a disease entity but a syndrome that can affect the health of an employee.
What specialist to go to with symptoms of job burnout?
A psychotherapist can help treat the symptoms of a severe form of occupational burnout. Meanwhile, working with a coach, psychologist or psychotherapist will help find the causes of burnout and prevent its recurrence.
Can a family doctor give L4 for professional burnout?
A family doctor may issue sick leave for other work-related symptoms and conditions. However, occupational burnout will not be entered as the main reason for sick leave, as there is no disease code assigned to it.
Occupational burnout is not grounds for issuing an L4, as it is not classified as a disease entity (it is a disease syndrome according to the ICD-11 classification).
