Editor's Note: We recently updated this previously published post with new insights. Enjoy!
We hear employees mention feeling “burned out” all the time, especially around this time of year —but beneath the surface, there’s often a deeper story of fatigue, overwhelm, and struggle that deserves heightened understanding and care.
True employee burnout is more than needing a temporary break from work or feeling briefly worn down by an intense project. Instead, it’s a state of chronic job stress that results in overall exhaustion, disengagement, and in extreme cases, isolation.
Burnout can emerge for any number of reasons—from work-life imbalance and unrealistic work expectations to simply feeling out of control. But it’s more common than employers might think, with nearly 75% of workforces experiencing chronic burnout that almost inevitably results in increased turnover.
If there’s any good news about employee burnout, it’s that it doesn’t develop overnight. It builds slowly, giving employers time to watch for and quickly address warning signs.
The 7 Most Common Signs of Employee Burnout
Paying attention to and looking for common burnout indicators gives employers an opportunity to customize their wellness program offerings to prevent it from escalating—or from developing at all.
7 Most Common Employee Burnout Signs
1. Emotional, Mental, and Physical Exhaustion
Are employees reporting feeling drained when they first wake up in the morning? Do they talk about struggling with sleep issues?
Employees suffering from exhaustion will find they’re dragging themselves to work and then unable to start or focus on a task.
2. Disengagement
Employees losing interest in the things they previously found enjoyable—like socializing with colleagues or friends—can be an early warning sign.
At work, they may stop participating in meetings, avoid taking on new projects, or stop returning calls, messages, and emails. As they continue to disconnect from the environment around them, employees may lose enthusiasm for their job, resulting in reduced performance or motivation to grow in their roles.
3. Increased Absenteeism
Overtaxed employees are likely to take more sick days. Some may use the time to recuperate, while others might use it as a way to avoid projects, managers, or employees that cause them stress. Some employees may also come in late and leave early to avoid interactions with teams.
4. Isolation
Formerly extroverted employees who suddenly become distant may just be having a bad day or experiencing stress in their personal lives. But if this isolation continues, it may be a sign of a bigger problem.
Isolation can be even harder to detect in remote employees, making it more difficult to tell if they are withdrawing without directly asking them.
5. Higher Sensitivity to Feedback
Employees may begin taking criticism more personally, reacting to it with increased defensiveness, anger, or other signs of stress.
6. Emergence of Physical Symptoms
Exhaustion and stress can often manifest as physical symptoms, including chest pains, increased heart rate, nausea, and headaches. Employees may lose their appetite or experience weight fluctuations from using food to cope with stress.
7. Decreased Productivity
As burnout worsens, so will productivity and performance. Stress prevents employees from concentrating on tasks at hand, and feeling overwhelmed and unable to catch up might make them feel as if their efforts aren’t worthwhile.
Workplace Wellness Activities That Proactively Address Burnout
It’s important to proactively monitor all employees for signs of burnout. Without proper leadership and accessible resources, employees suffering from burnout can be left feeling like they have no choice but to trudge on.
Fortunately, wellness programs offer advantageous opportunities for employers to get in front of burnout while creating a work environment that tackles stress head on. Rather than only focusing on fitness and nutrition, employers can incorporate elements of emotional, occupational, and financial wellness into their programming so stress is not only treated, but prevented at the source.
Options to add to your program might include any of these strategies:
Giving Thanks
When stress rises, it’s easy to lose sight of the good things in life. However, when your wellness program challenges employees to practice gratitude and turn it into a habit, it can completely transform their perspective.
For example, WellRight’s “Be Grateful” challenge encourages employees to write down three things they’re grateful for over a period of 30 days. It’s also a great idea for employers to practice gratitude, showing their employees how much they appreciate them.
Family Time
When employees experience work stress, it can easily spill over into their personal time. Whether employees are working longer hours or just keeping their mind on work while at home, burning the candle at both ends can quickly lead to burnout.
Employers can actively prioritize employee wellbeing by incorporating family-based challenges that engage everyone inside and outside the workplace, while also making sure workloads are manageable enough to help them to carry out these challenges.
Coaching Counts
A major way to prevent employee burnout is to help people feel like they aren't alone. One-on-one coaching (which WellRight offers not only to employees, but also to their families) can help employees manage their stress, create achievable goals, and gain the motivation to accomplish those goals.
The result? Improved engagement and boosted self-esteem.
Celebrate Achievements
When employees are discouraged and have diminished faith in their own skills, the fun “quick wins” offered by a wellness program can help them regain pride in their abilities. Rewards based not only on accomplishment but on effort keep the playing field level, giving every employee a chance to shine.
It’s important that employees feel supported at all times while trying to navigate the constantly changing conditions of our world. Whether they're continuing to work from home, preparing to return to the office, or a combination of both, you can count on WellRight to help keep your employees safe, healthy, and engaged with innovative wellness resources.
