Burnout according to google is a form of exhaustion caused by constantly feeling swamped. It is a result of excessive and prolonged emotional, physical and mental stress. In many cases, burnout is related to one’s job.
In the workplace, it only occurs when an employee is overwhelmed with excess workload, or exhausted from the completion of a tedious task, which leaves them physically and emotionally drained. It becomes very difficult for them to keep up with the incessant demands of their employers as well as the demands of the workplace.
It is important to note that no organization grows when the team members constantly face burnout, because it lowers productivity, leads to lack of concentration, health decline, etc. One of the major causes of burnout in the workplace is work overload.
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Among other causes, burnout can result from an inflexible schedule, unrealistic deadlines, unfair treatment. Managers must understand that an employee experiencing work burnout cannot perform well on the job. It will no doubt stifle the growth of the organization.
It is interesting to note that work burnout does not only affect employers, but also the organization, because a company can risk losing their competent and talented staff members. Due to how effective they are in the workplace, most employers tend to give so many tasks to their best team members, at the detriment of their well being.
Managers must come to the understanding that employees are humans and not robots, as some of the team members are likely to fail to deliver on a given task or fail to meet expectations, not because they are not effective, but as a result of too much workload.
Therefore, employers must see the need to withdraw certain tasks to avoid overwhelming their team members. One strategy often used by managers who do everything to ensure that the team members do not face burn out, is to provide them with paid time off.
However, here are four (4) ways on how employers can prevent staff burnout;
1.) Maintain A Flexible Schedule: Employers must ensure that team members are given flexible schedules in the workplace. For instance, there shouldn’t be back to back meetings and work execution that won’t give them time to rest or replenish their energy. Team members should have a place for rest in their work schedule, and not always constantly loaded with work as it will lead to burnout. There should be a flexible workplace schedule that accommodates their individual schedules most especially outside the workplace.
2.) Taking Note Of Excess Workload: Managers must ensure that employees are not unnecessarily tasked with unreasonable workloads. While workloads might be sometimes necessary, probably due to meeting deadlines, however, it shouldn’t be a regular thing. Managers must take note of workload being given to team members, and carefully observe if it is too much for them to handle. Once they notice that their team members are overwhelmed with the task, it is ideal that they take off certain tasks.
3.) Offer Employees Time Off: Employers must see the need to give employees time off from work, where they can go on a vacation or rest from a hectic work period. The time off could be for a week, month, year, depending on what the manager decides. Time off gives team members the chance to reset and recharge which will no doubt see them resume at the workplace rejuvenated.
4.) Encourage Feedback: Though this can sometimes be uncomfortable and challenging on the part of the team members, feedback, positive, constructive or negative allows them to express their concerns over something they are not cool with. When a company has a workplace structure that encourages feedback, employers can get to know when any member of the team is faced with burnout.
Final Thoughts
No organization thrives when a large percentage of their team members are faced with burnout probably due to excessive workload. One negative impact is that it stifles the organization’s growth which also affects their revenue, because tired workers can’t give their best.
Therefore, it is pertinent for managers to deploy measures to eliminate work burnout from it’s team members, because once these measures are put in place and strictly adhered to, it will no doubt improve productivity in the workplace and encourage staff retention. The company’s revenue will also experience high turnover.