Burnout Out Burnout at Your Company

Burning out burnout at your company

No one can ignore the toll COVID and issues flowing from it have taken on the American workforce — stories of first responders, physicians, parents at their wits end facing something they had never experienced before, burnout.

Summary: The undeniable strain of COVID-19 has introduced a new, life-threatening issue to the American workforce: burnout. A term commonly heard, but often misunderstood. So, what exactly is burnout, and how can it be identified in ourselves and those around us? Jennifer Moss's recent book, The Burnout Epidemic, delves deep into this topic, offering crucial insights into recognizing and responding effectively to burnout.

Moss emphasizes the rampant misinformation surrounding burnout, noting how it's frequently underestimated in severity. Critical errors organizations often make include:

• Misinterpreting burnout, resulting in wrongly labeling dedicated employees as underperformers.

• Employees not realizing the gravity of their own condition, leading to severe consequences like long-term unemployment and a ripple effect on the nation's economy.

Burnout isn't a fleeting feeling. It's a profound psychological disorder stemming from prolonged stress, manifesting in feelings of defeat, loss of motivation, increasing negativity, and physical symptoms like extreme fatigue and insomnia.

Unfortunately, many hold the misconception that burnout abruptly appears and can disappear just as quickly. The reality is that early detection is pivotal; if overlooked, solutions become elusive. This calls for proactive managerial strategies prioritizing employee mental health.

The World Health Organization highlighted the gravity of overworking, linking it to over 745,000 deaths in a year. Occupations with inherently high stress, such as lawyers and healthcare professionals, are particularly susceptible.

Moss shares a poignant reminder on helping loved ones showing burnout symptoms: "When you hear, ‘I’m fine,’ read between the lines... Get them to a mental health counselor... You may very well be saving their life.”