How to Avoid Employee Burnout – Janine Morgan
A survey presented on Pulse shows that companies are facing an employee burnout crisis. In a hyper-connected world, it’s very easy for employees to work longer hours. The rise of instant messaging makes work-life balance increasingly rare. In a recent U.S. study of 7,500 employees, 23% reported feeling burned out at work often, while 44% felt burned out sometimes. If not managed properly, employee burnout can lead to unproductive workers and even the loss of talent. It can also cause numerous health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and gastrointestinal issues.
This article will tackle the steps companies can take to avoid employee burnout.
#1. Get Regular Feedback
It’s important for managers to regularly get feedback from their employees. In our post ‘Are You Listening to the Voice of Employees?’, we suggested that through feedback sessions management will learn what their workers need to stay engaged and productive.
At the same time, it’s a way of saying that you value your employees enough to listen to them and adjust office policies to meet their needs. Studies have proven that getting honest feedback can do wonderful things, such as reduce turnover rates, create higher sales, and improve customer relations.
#2. Encourage Teamwork & Connections
Employees are less likely to burn out when they are able to lean on their officemates for support, and it is recommended that managers set collective team goals. When an office is working towards something together, it’s more likely to foster collaboration and strong employee relations.
Another way to encourage teamwork is to set out-of-office bonding sessions where employees are able to get to know their team members outside of a working environment.
#3. Support Employee Vacation Leaves
Encouraging your employees to take days off is important in keeping up good office morale. Holiday leaves help employees get the rest they need to come back to the office refreshed and ready to work. Some companies are apprehensive about encouraging employees to go on leave because of the pending work that gets left behind.
A solution to this is to hire temporary workers while the regular staff are away. An article by Special Counsel titled ‘5 Reasons to Hire Temporary Professionals’, outlines that temporary workers allow employees to enjoy their time off without the worry of missing deadlines or getting behind.
This is especially important if your employees are managing valuable clients who require regular coordination. Temp workers ensure that operations continue while your employees are getting the proper time off to avoid burning out.
#4. Set Realistic Goals
Computer World reminds office managers about the significance of setting realistic goals. This allows employees to work at a reasonable pace while still meeting the necessary deadlines. Unnecessary pressure will not do anything for your employees, and could actually be detrimental to them.
Remember that missed deadlines can be very stressful for employees. During times when management does need to push in order to get something accomplished, be transparent with your staff. Help them understand that the extra work is not normal, nor will it be an ongoing demand.
Workers who know that the intense grind won’t last forever will take on the task more efficiently than those who think the daily grind is never-ending
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