1.0Explore Our Extensive Counselling Article Libraryhttps://www.aipc.net.au/articlesAIPChttps://www.aipc.net.au/articles/author/admin/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="4v5kz06WyI"><a href="https://www.aipc.net.au/articles/workplace-burnout-causes-effects-solutions/">Workplace Burnout: Causes, Effects, Solutions</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.aipc.net.au/articles/workplace-burnout-causes-effects-solutions/embed/#?secret=4v5kz06WyI" width="600" height="338" title="“Workplace Burnout: Causes, Effects, Solutions” — Explore Our Extensive Counselling Article Library" data-secret="4v5kz06WyI" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://www.aipc.net.au/articles/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script> In recent times, the lines between work and home life have become increasingly blurred. The pandemic has seen many of us working longer hours, worrying about job security, looking after children during the working day, or experiencing significant changes in our means of social interaction. A study by Gartner (2021) revealed that only 9% of workers are currently considered engaged. Furthermore, the Australian Human Resources Institute (2021) found that only 15% of workers are consistently thriving, and 43% are “really struggling” or “not feeling bad, but just getting by”. Asana’s (2021) research found that 77% of employees experienced burnout. As prevalent as burnout is, it is often misunderstood, stigmatised, and costly to employees’ wellbeing and productivity. Workplace burnout is defined as a special type of chronic, job-related stress — a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that evokes a sense of job dissatisfaction, reduced accomplishment, and loss of personal happiness. Burnout usually creeps in subtly over time, impacting workers in a way that they almost do not notice. Symptoms include feeling tired, drained, helpless, defeated, detached, alone, or overwhelmed. Burnt-out workers might procrastinate, have headaches, stomach aches, high blood pressure, insomnia, or chronic fatigue. They might display negative outlooks, cynicism, or self-doubt. (Mayo Clinic, 2021; WGU, 2019). Not surprisingly, these symptoms usually result in reduced professional efficacy. Employee wellbeing is a key factor in determining an organisation’s long-term effectiveness. Many studies show a direct link between productivity levels and the general health and wellbeing of the workforce (International Labour Organisation, 2022). Causes of job burnout Today’s workers experience burnout resulting from both work and personality factors, including:  Burnout isn’t something which goes away on its own. Rather, it is commonly a sign of deeply entrenched issues in the workplace. Burnout will likely worsen if the underlying causes and risk factors are not addressed. Employees could lose the ability and energy to effectively meet the demands of their jobs which could have knock-on effects to the other areas of their life (Mental Health UK, 2021). Handling job burnout While the best way to deal with burnout is to prevent it from happening in the first place, this is not always possible. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for employee wellbeing, and what suits one individual, workforce, or industry may not suit another. Ideally, every risk factor needs to be addressed, and sustainable, supportive and protective systems need to be put in place.Before exploring ways to handle job burnout, it is worthwhile to consider the employee-wellbeing myths that recent research has debunked: To begin, Sonder (2022) has found that paid time off does not necessary cure burnout. Paid time off can set the tone for a more balanced and healthier workplace, but it seems to be a band-aid for burnout, not a cure. Burnout is a multifaceted, multidimensional issue that can rarely be solved with short bursts of time off work. If a workplace is exhausting staff to the point that they are using their time off to recover, it is likely that a burnout culture exists. A healthy organisation does not leave people drained in the first place. Deloitte (2021) reported that today’s workers were reluctant to take time off because of the inability to travel, difficulty justifying time off in a work-from-home environment, fear of taking time off in an unstable job market, and a prevailing “work martyr” culture. (Sonder, 2022). Lastly, in an era of increasing employee perks (think onsite gyms, childcare, ping-pong tables, beanbags, food trucks, and the list goes on), it might be surprising to learn that too many employee perks can have a negative effect. These benefits can deliver short-term bursts of happiness, but they do not keep people engaged in the long run. Organisations do not ordinarily offer perks out of generosity; they often provide them in an attempt to get employees to work more (Sonder, 2022). Fortunately, there are some overarching treatments that might help manage burnout: Stress Risk Assessments are a way to explore stress levels in employees. These work the same way as regular health and safety risk assessments: the risk is identified, then ways of removing or reducing the risk are explored (Mental Health Uk 2021).  Workplace burnout is increasingly common for many employees, but it does not have to be. Even in these challenging times, employees can take actions to prevent or treat workplace burnout and have a career that they find manageable and fulfilling. References Asana (2021, January 14). Anatomy of Work Index 2021: Australia and New Zealand Findings. https://blog.asana.com/2021/01/anz-anatomy-of-work-infographic Australian Human Resources Institute (2021, May).  The Wellbeing Lab Workplace Report. https://www.ahri.com.au/media/4655/wellbeinglab_workplacesurvey2020.pdf Better Health Victoria (2017, October 2). Strong relationships, strong health. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Strong-relationships-strong-health Deloitte (2021, January 22). The disconnect disconnect. https://www2.deloitte.com/xe/en/insights/topics/talent/culture-vacation-policy-trends-employee-burnout.html Forbes, D., Creamer, M., Phelps, A., Bryant, R., McFarlane, A., Devilly, G.J., Matthews, L., Raphael, B., Doran, C., Merlin, T., & Newton, S. (2007, August). Australian guidelines for the treatment of adults with acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 41(8), 637-48. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17620160/ Gartner (2021, April 29). Gartner HR Survey Shows a Quarter of Australian Employees Are Seeking a New Job. https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2021-04-29-gartner-hr-survey-shows-a-quarter-of-australian-emplo Health Direct (2020, August). Sleep. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/sleep Health Direct (2020, November). Exercise and mental health. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/exercise-and-mental-health International Labour Organisation (2022). Workplace well-being. https://www.ilo.org/safework/areasofwork/workplace-health-promotion-and-well-being/WCMS_118396/lang–en/index.htm Mayo Clinic (2021, June 5). Job burnout: How to spot it and take action. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642 Mental Health UK (2021). Burnout. https://mentalhealth-uk.org/burnout/ Rosenberg McKay, D. (2019, June 4) Job Burnout: The causes, symptoms, and ways to prevent it. The Balance Careers. https://www.thebalancecareers.com/job-burnout-526270 Sonder (2022). 5 Myths of employee wellbeing. Insights. Issue 01. https://www.sonder.io/blog/myths-employee-wellbeing-evidence/Western Governors University (2019, June 6). Workplace burnout: causes, effects, and solutions. https://www.wgu.edu/blog/workplace-burnout-causes-effects-solutions1906.html#close