Employee burnout is a major problem for all levels of employees in any industry. Heavy workloads, intense deadline pressures, and long hours can lead to increased stress. In a study conducted by Deloitte, over 77% of respondents indicated they felt burnout at their current job. When burnt out, your employees experience emotional and physical exhaustion that yields lower productivity levels. 

Reducing burnout is critical to the operations of a business to help retain your top talent and maintain productivity within the workplace. These five tips can help bolster your employee retention strategy, help reduce and prevent employee burnout and boost morale and engagement, leading to a more productive workforce. 

Encourage Stretch Breaks  – There are days when your employees will be on back-to-back calls with little time to take a break. According to the American Psychological Association, studies have shown that professionals who take microbreaks or short breaks for wellness are more engaged and have seen an increase in work performance. (You could even encourage your employees to get up and stretch while on their Zoom calls by using the PauseMe!)

Empower Your Employees to Excel at Time Management – Time management is essential in helping employees avoid burnout. You can encourage your employees to manage their time better and ensure their workloads aren’t overwhelming. 

Train All Management on Better Engaging Employees – Reducing workplace burnout in employees starts with the management team. Consistent training and understanding can help managers stay up to date, identify signs of burnout, and quickly improve employee engagement. A good manager knows how to prioritize the workload to meet the business goals and focus on outcomes instead of the volume of activity.

Learning how to manage employee burnout better can be a productivity game changer. When your employees are experiencing burnout, their mental health, productivity, motivation, and more are negatively impacted. The APA’s Work and Well-being study indicates that 26% felt a lack of interest, motivation, or energy, while 19% expressed they lacked effort at work. Companies can effectively prevent burnout by providing management support, encouraging well-being, and ensuring employees manage their work-life balance. 

Resources:

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/01/special-burnout-stress

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5627926/