How to Address Burnout Through a Better Employee Experience

Today’s workplace can be quite demanding and stressful which, unfortunately, can lead to burnout among employees. Employees are expected to work long hours consistently and juggle between their personal and work lives which can lead them to be drained, disengaged, and feel ineffective. This feeling of burnout harms their health as well as the productivity and motivation of the organization as a whole. On the bright side, this burnout can be avoided if organizations prioritize the employee experience (EX) which includes employees feeling heard, valued, and encouraged to do well in their roles.

Burnout is not just about being tired or feeling under pressure one specific way. Rather, it is an emotional, physical, or mental state of exhaustion due to sustained and extreme stress at work. There is however a warning; when there is burnout, different levels of consequences may occur. These range from withdrawal, lower productivity, and increased turnover rates.

However, organizational leaders have begun to pay attention to employee disengagement and view the causative factors driving the phenomenon and the far-reaching negative consequences that accompany such persistent challenges. It is thus evident that the answer does not lie within temporary solutions or band-aids for deeper underlying issues or strain, but focuses on the holistic restructuring of the employee experience which addresses the outward issue of employee burnout. This is more of an organizational approach to employee relationship management: ensuring that every employee is emotionally and mentally onboard, and supported at each stage of their career with the company.

What is Burnout and Why Should You Care?

In 1979, the World Health Organization (WHO) included burnout in its WHO-ICD 10 classification of diseases as a psychological disorder related to work-related stress, defining it as “Burnout syndrome is a psychological syndrome that appears as a result of chronic stress in the workplace.” There is still no definition of occupational burnout published in the American Psychological Association (APA) that is universally accepted; however, statistics are troubling and statistics from the APA conclude that at least 79% of all respondents to their surveys suffered burnout at their previous workplace, which was stuck short of bothering to quit as a result of the stress caused by chronic work. 

That is quite alarming and that should expect a boost from companies in virtually any sector as practically every employee in the organization suffers from some form of stress, mostly occupational. Burnout is not an issue that you can ignore and switch to a different job since it would lead to extensive stressors when encountered further down the employment line. Stress at work is not only a causal link to occupational disengagement but has long-term impacts that can sometimes take months or years for employees to overcome. Stress at work leads to psychological stress which is manifested in three common symptoms, for example: 

• Exhaustion: Workers are emotionally and physically tired and frequently report having sleep problems and feeling tired.
• Cynicism and Detachment: Individuals feel alienated from their jobs and colleagues, contributing to a feeling of depression and disconnection.
• Inefficacy: There is a drop in self-esteem as employees start to view themselves as less efficient which in turn makes them less effective in accomplishing their assigned tasks.

The McKinsey Health Institute identifies burnout along with depression as one of the top reasons for decreased engagement and productivity in the workplace. Individuals who have a case of burnout are 63% more inclined to call in sick and are 2.6 times more likely to be looking for a different employer than those who do not experience burnout.

The Importance of Employee Experience in Preventing Burnout

To effectively prevent burnout, the link between employee experience and the prevention of burnout ought to be understood. Employee experience implies the totality of the interactions of an employee with his employer, from the time they are recruited to the moment they leave the organization. It includes factors such as the company’s culture, career advancement opportunities, support from management, and the physical working conditions.

Businesses that have deliberate policies aimed at enhancing visitors’ experience usually enjoy increased levels of employee satisfaction, retention, and productivity. According to the Harvard Business Review, organizations with a strong emphasis on employee experience have a 25% lower rate of employees leaving the organization and 40% higher levels of engagement. This essentially means, when employees feel that they are supported and appreciated, they tend to have a higher ability to withstand stress and thus, do not feel burnt out.

So, how can we use the employee experience to reduce burnout? Let’s analyze it.

Recognizing the Signs of Burnout in Employees

The first step in the management of burnout is recognition. The stakes are high when it comes to determining the onset of burnout, for it lingers longer until it is finally felt. The following are some indicators that a teammate may be experiencing burnout: 

• Decreased productivity: When the working performance of a high achiever declines, it can be attributed to -high levels of exhaustion and this could lead to showing poor quality of their work and at times even missing timelines like deadlines. 
• Increased absenteeism: Employees who have reached the class of ‘burn out’ tend to be absent too often and may report being sick many times or take lots of days off to rest from the feeling of being overworked. It is normal for them to develop a pattern of coming in late or leaving early to avoid work altogether. 
• Emotional exhaustion: Employees seem to have icicles in the place of their emotions, or a void. They may become passive in team conversations, stop flaring up with excitement towards work, projects, or tasks, or show avoidance of coworkers altogether. 
• Cynicism and negativity: As clinical distress begins to set amongst employees, pessimism and negativity towards their assigned duties increase at an abnormal rate, and a loss of realism reduces level-headedness, leading many to lash out more frequently, criticize company leadership, or question the direction of the business.
• Difficulty concentrating: Burnout can leave employees mentally disorganized, creating an average line for concentration or decision-making. An example may be having more employees than usual sounding out for more clarification or being clueless about what is needed from them.

If managers and HR teams observe these signs, then they can act early to provide employees with the necessary support to prevent burnout levels from escalating.

Strategies for Addressing Burnout Through a Better Employee Experience

Building a Culture of Open Communication and Trust

The perception of being able to raise one’s voice regarding the demanding or stressful aspects of a role reduces the odds of employees being burnt out. Such openness is possible when a culture of trust and transparency is established across the organization.

All teams and cross-functional teams must have regular one-on-one touchpoints. Similarly, however less frequent, employee surveys can also be helpful in the management of distressing factors. As per the Gallup 2022 State of the Global Workplace report, employees who feel addressed about their work are 70% more forgiving towards circumstances at work that could have otherwise led to their burnout.

Actionable Tip: Rather than just relying on the managers to raise issues where their subordinates face great difficulty, encourage them to leave doors open for feedback so all subordinates’ standpoints are taken into consideration.

Foster Flexibility and Work-Life Balance

Employers commonly make heavy-handed decisions concerning project timelines or the workload of employees, which usually results in a lot of stress in the workplace. Letting employees make decisions on when and how they will go about their work assists greatly in stress alleviation. Alternative work arrangements such as remote working, flexible hours, and time off enable employees to fulfill their personal and work obligations without becoming stressed.

As indicated by the Future Forum Pulse Survey, employees with flexible workplace arrangements have reported an increase in their ability to focus on tasks by 53% while productivity is enhanced by 29%. In as much as this is the case, work-related stress can be aggravated by having an inflexible working structure.

Actionable Tip: Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to working hours, provide employees with options such as hybrid models. Furthermore, when employees need to take time off, let them do so and also encourage them to switch off their work life after working hours.

Recognize and Celebrate Employee Achievements

Appreciation and recognition enable individuals to overcome work burnout. Employees with low self-esteem and recognition often end up being passive as a result of stress. The reverse however is that both formal and informal recognition will enhance the level of morale of the employees and their willingness to constantly meet or exceed expectations.

According to the SHRM report, employees who are often recognized are 48% employee engaged and 28% less likely to be in workplace burnout. Whether it is through recognition during a company meeting, on the company’s internal platform, or through bonuses and time off, recognition is the most essential in mitigating stress.

Actionable Tip: An employee recognition system should be established wherein an individual’s or a group’s achievement is put into the spotlight. Such a value is crucial as it will enrich the culture of celebrating small wins and honoring the employees’ continuous efforts and hard work.

Invest in Employee Development and Career Growth

According to research conducted by a variety of organizations, lack of opportunities for growth makes people experience monotony which in turn leads them to feel a sense of burnout. Burnout due to a lack of career growth or learning opportunities is a common issue for many employees. Providing such opportunities also highlights their importance to the organization and depicts that their prospects are of value to the employer.

Employees can be bored when they are always doing the same tasks without any motivation. Development programs for employees such as workshops, online courses, and mentorship programs can be beneficial in igniting a flame of purpose again within them. The research conducted by LinkedIn explains that companies with good prospects of growth have lower employee turnover rates due to attrition by half when they provide growth to employees. 

Actionable Tip: Offer opportunities where people don’t need to segregate only to the present, but always strive forward. Give room to set up targets and get help in achieving them through different means including training, mentorships, promotions, etc.

Prioritize Mental Health and Well-being Initiatives

A physically fit worker is more likely to have better work output. Quite often, stress and overwhelm tend to be more of a mental concern and employers have a responsibility to step in to avert any extremes. Evidence suggests that the provision of mental aid services to staff members is beneficial; providing services such as EAPs, therapy sessions, and workshops can have a remarkable improvement on the quality of life for the working staff. 

According to a study released in July 2022 by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), employees who are mentally supported have a 30% greater chance of productivity and are 50% free from burnout symptoms. Developers can also promote a more positive attitude toward using up all their annual leave through the promotion of ‘mental health days.’

Actionable Tip: Encourage the use of mental health days, wellness policies, and access to therapists and counselors. Promoting mental illness awareness and talking about it in the context of work is normal.

Create a Supportive and Collaborative Work Environment

Repetitive stress is bound to be a problem if the employees feel that they are carrying too much of that burden individually. For the employees to know that there are team members who they can ask for help foster a more collaborative and encouraging environment.

Establishing a work culture where collaboration and teamwork are guaranteed to cut down stress for individuals and elevate organizational performance. As reported in the 2023 Workplace Well-being Survey conducted by Deloitte, organizations with intense collaborative norms experience a 22% improvement in employee satisfaction and a 15% drop in cases of burnout.

Actionable Tip: Advocate for the need to work creatively and designate cross-functional tasks. Make sure that the span of control is reasonable, and that there are avenues for assistance when necessary.

The Long-Term Benefits of a Better Employee Experience

Dealing with the burnout induced by the increased stress at the workplace through an improved employee experience is not an issue seeking intervention, rather it is a need that is to be pursued in a quest for a new paradigm while remaining focused on employee engagement. The improvement of workplace dynamics as well as acknowledged appreciation stands to yield positive organizational effects on overall performance, retention, and diverse aspects of organizational culture.

Engagement for workers may come through a feeling of attachment to work, a sense of worth bestowed on them by their superiors, and affordable opportunities for development and growth. Such workers demonstrate loyalty, are active in their tasks, and are committed to the organization. 

According to the 2022 Employee Engagement Report released by Gallup, companies with actively engaged employees earn 21% more in profit and a 41% lower absenteeism level on average than the competitors. These facts demonstrate how much organizations stand to gain from the efforts put into enhancing employee experiences.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the problem of burnout can be quite complicated and is not solved as simply as just offering a few mental health days. There is, however, the opportunity to address this issue more directly with an employee-oriented and energized workplace.

For us at Auzmor, a strong employee experience is crucial. We provide a range of workplace solutions that facilitate empowering work environments. Strategies to enhance the employee experience, such as maximizing employees’ mental health enabling remote work, or improving communication – are steps that effectively manage burnout and promote a healthier workforce.

In case you are prepared to combat burnout through an enhanced employee experience, please get in touch with us at Auzmor. We can work together to design a workplace that enhances customer satisfaction while driving your employees and the organization to achieve sustainable growth.