No employee enjoys every single moment of their workday. That being said, it’s important to know the difference between an employee who is having an “off day” and one who is experiencing the phenomenon known as burnout. Burnout is a state of chronic stress brought on by work, and it can have serious consequences — both for the employee and for your business.
Burnout isn’t uncommon. 52 percent of U.S. office workers say they’re stressed at work on a daily basis, and 95 percent of HR leaders blame burnout for high turnover rates. Let’s take a look at five common signs of burnout, so you can recognize and deal with the issue before it gets any worse.
Loss of Passion
One of the telltale signs of employee burnout is a lack of passion for work, especially if the employee in question used to have a noticeable vigor for their position. Decreased enthusiasm, quietness and a general lack of interest all point to a loss of passion.
Poor Job Performance
When an employee loses passion for their job, their work will quickly start to suffer. Watch for lower productivity levels, late assignments or projects, and missed deadlines.
Exhaustion
There can be a physical component to employee burnout as well as a mental one. Exhaustion is a sign of burnout, and it might be accompanied by other physical symptoms like headaches, weight gain or loss, and nausea.
Irritability
Employees experiencing burnout might be irritable at work. It’s likely they won’t take criticism well, and they could even lash out at supervisors or co-workers.
Absenteeism
Since employees experiencing burnout have lost interest in their work, they might demonstrate higher rates of absenteeism. While there are many reasons why an employee might be missing work, burnout is one of the most troubling possibilities.
So, what can you do if you think an employee is suffering from burnout?
- Give them breaks – During work hours, make sure employees are able to take frequent breaks; staring at a screen all day doesn’t help burnout symptoms.
- Recognize them – Employees who feel recognized and appreciated for their work are less likely to feel burned out.
- Give them time off – If a burnout situation is bad enough, give the employee time off to rest and recharge.
- Refer them – For serious cases of burnout, consider referring the employee to health professionals for help.
High Profile is here to help ensure your employees don’t suffer from burnout. To find out more about how our staffing service can help you, give us a call today at 972-991-7900 or contact us online.