The American Psychological Association estimates nearly three in five employees experience burnout, which is the negative effect of work-related stress that can manifest as a lack of interest, motivation, energy and effort. It is important to understand the causes of employee burnout so you can address the issue.
Uschamber.com shares the following top five causes of employee burnout.
- Workload. Having too much to do and not enough time to do it quickly can cause stress and lead to burnout. An overwhelming workload can lead to employee errors, missed deadlines and low morale. Do not over-assign work to one team member, and encourage open communication so employees can voice the need to turn down too much work.
- Unfair treatment. Many companies are examining their diversity and inclusion policies and employee benefits to ensure employees are treated like people—not just workers. However, unfair treatment—such as bias, favoritism and unfair compensation—remains one of the top causes of employee burnout. Create clear policies regarding employee conduct, pay, evaluations and promotions, and implement a strong no-tolerance rule for discrimination.
- Lack of recognition. Employees burn out when they believe their hard work is meaningless or underappreciated. Those employees are less likely to continue working productively. Take small moments to provide positive feedback; celebrate small and significant milestones; and encourage positive peer-to-peer feedback.
- Lack of connection to others in the workplace. Having poor relationships with managers and other employees can contribute to burnout. It can be difficult to keep everyone connected, so be sure to set aside time and space for people to connect, whether it is a nonwork-related chat or team lunch.
- A rigid, inflexible work environment. Micromanagement and rigid rules can lead to employee burnout. Create a more flexible work environment to allow your team to thrive under the circumstances that work best for them. Avoid the types of expectations that can cause people to feel stressed.
