Burnout — it’s a term that can apply to most anything in our lives. It’s best described as a state of emotional, mental and sometimes physical exhaustion caused by prolonged and repeated stress.
The problem with employee burnout is that it’s not necessarily due to working too much. Instead, it’s often the work conditions which lead to employee burnout. Because it’s the conditions that lead to this state, and not necessarily the individual, it’s crucial that companies take a proactive role learn how to deal with employee burnout.
How to Prevent Employee Burnout
According to a Harvard Business Review article, “The psychological and physical problems of burned-out employees, which cost an estimated $125 billion to $190 billion a year in healthcare spending in the U.S., are just the most obvious impacts. The true cost to business can be far greater, thanks to low productivity across organizations, high turnover, and the loss of the most capable talent.”
There are several factors that can lead to burn out, but there are just as many or more that can help avoid it. A major antidote that companies can integrate is a comprehensive wellness program that not only addresses physical health but encompass initiatives that encourage mental and overall cultural health. Consider whether your company is currently combatting employee burnout by addressing the following.
Offer a wellness program that truly benefits your workforce
A significant step that employers can take is creating a wellness program that truly benefits their workforce. Wellness programs are a must when looking to strengthen company culture and individual engagement. When you consider how much time is spent at work in one’s lifetime – an average of about 13 years and two months – encouraging the physical and emotional well-being of your employees only makes sense. Take the time to break down who your company is comprised of and what they value. When you do this, you will be more likely to implement a wellness program that resonates with your employees and helps them combat employee burnout at work.
Help your employees to remember why they do what they do
When surrounded by meetings, deadlines and an endless workload, it can be easy to lose sight of why you are at your job, company, etc. Help employees understand and believe in the vision and mission of your company. Take time on a continual basis to integrate these values in culture-driven activities and messaging. Doing this will help employees remember the bigger picture and how their efforts are helping. This can also help employees recognize the importance of what they do and how much they’ve accomplished, which in turn provides purpose and increased engagement.
Place priority on giving back
Giving back to one’s community and those around them has been proven to make you happy. Known as the “helper’s high”, volunteering and giving to others results in a boost to our physical and mental health. More specifically, those who give of themselves experience lower blood pressure, increased self-esteem, decreased depression, lower stress levels and greater overall happiness. Making this an important part of workplace culture is beneficial for all parties involved. Directly, when employees see that their organization not only values the wellness of their workforce but of their community, there is a greater sense of goodwill, trust and pride that results in even greater productivity.
Learn more about how integrating a customized fitness and wellness option like ClassPass can help you create a company culture that is proactively about preventing employee burnout.
