Is your employee feeling uninterested in coming to work daily? Are you losing some great talents continuously but not sure why?
If yes, then it could be a warning sign of employee burnout.
Employee burnout is a challenging problem that if left unsolved could lead to decreased employee productivity and engagement. Adding to it, it can also result in losing skillful employees. But there's good news. You can prevent and manage employee burnout by taking effective steps that would help your employees balance both work and life.
In this blog, we've covered signs and causes of employee burnout, and the best ways to handle the situation.
Keep on reading to know more.
What is employee burnout?
Employee burnout is a feeling of exhaustion both physically and mentally. This could occur as a result of chronic stress that has been suppressed for a long time.
Often, employee burnout is misunderstood as a problem with the employees. But problems with the stressful environment in the workplace lead to employee burnout.
Now that we've seen what employee burnout is, let's move on to the signs and symptoms.
Signs and symptoms of employee burnout:
Employee burnout symptoms are obvious and easy to notice. You could identify the following symptoms with your employees if they are burned out:
Lack of motivation
Absenteeism
Feeling stressed
Depression
Lack of concentration
Physical tiredness
Weight issues
Frequent irritation
Decreased productivity
If you notice any of these symptoms, address them as soon as possible.
Causes of employee burnout:
Many employees feel burned out because of the following reasons in their workplace:
Lack of support and training
Long hours of work
Tight deadlines
Lack of communication
Micromanaging
Unfair treatment
Heavy workload
It's crucial to avoid these causes to prevent burnout in your employees. Next, we shall move on to the interesting part - how to prevent and manage employee burnout.
5 Sure-fire ways to prevent employee burnout:
If you're wondering how to handle burnout situations for your employees, then don't worry. The following ways will guide you along the path.
1) Delegate tasks:
Delegating tasks is one of the best ways to prevent and manage burnout of your employees. Wondering how? Let's see it in detail.
Delegating tasks is nothing but dividing and assigning tasks to your employees. But there's a catch. You need to split tasks in a manner that even a single employee doesn't feel overwhelmed or exhausted.
As an employer, you need to confirm various factors like employees' interests, availability, challenges, and skill sets and then assign them tasks accordingly.
Hire extra employees in case the project demands or choose temporary employees to tackle the situation. Moreover, ask them if they need any resources for that project.
2) Recognize your employees:
Who doesn't love to be appreciated or recognized by their employers? Recognizing your employees now and then for the insane amount of hard work would make them feel satisfied and happy.
When you reward your employees, it would be heartwarming for them especially when it comes from the company's top leaders like you. This would directly boost their emotional well-being and contentment which then can prevent burnout.
Also, it doesn't always have to be a cash prize to appreciate. You can try out the following low-cost ways to recognize your employees:
A heartfelt thank you note - Give employees a handwritten note thanking them for their hard work.
Appreciate employees on your company's socials like LinkedIn, blog, or newsletter.
Take them to lunch or dinner.
Free movie tickets
Trophies or medals
3) Start the conversation:
This is a simple yet powerful technique to prevent your employees' burnout. Ask them questions like, " Do you think you are loaded with many projects?" or " How often do you feel stressed and burned out at work?" or "How can we help you to balance work and life efficiently?".
You can add or change questions according to the situation and your company. Now, start conversing with your employees. Listen to your employees to the core of their hearts.
This would help you understand your employees' mental well-being and expectations better. Also, remind them that they can reach out anytime if they face any problems.
4) Offer flexible schedules:
What could be the best way to prevent burnout if not flexible schedules? After the pandemic, many companies are leveraging hybrid work models to support their employees' well-being.
You can also offer flexible schedules for your employees. Flexible schedules allow employees to balance work and life, find time for their passion, learn courses, and exercise.
Adding to it, this flexibility paves the way for your employees to groom them personally and professionally. Try this method and your employees would love it.
5) Encourage to take breaks:
Everyone deserves a break from their routine to pause, reflect and recharge for the upcoming days. But when it comes to breaks, employees might hesitate to take one.
So, it's super important to normalize taking breaks. Lead the team and inspire your employees by taking breaks often. When they see you, they would feel motivated to do so.
Encourage your employees to take breaks and give them paid time off. Make sure they don't work when they are on time off.
Final words:
Summing it up, we are sure that these ways would help you immensely to take care of your employees' wellness and prevent burnout.
If you notice any burnout signs, then make sure you don't ignore them. Address and recover your employees as early as possible. Written By - Karpaga Lakshmi
Book your first therapy session today and let us match you to the right therapist.
Comments