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15 May, 2024
4 Ways To Avoid Employee Burnout
22 Feb, 20231-2 minutes
The World Health Organisation describes burnout as ‘a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed’ and recent research amongst UK workers revealed that reports of feeling this way have almost doubled over the past 12 months.
The causes of burnout can vary from person to person, however common factors include unreasonable workloads, unrealistic deadlines and a lack of support from management.
The fatigue and exhaustion caused by this can be detrimental to somebody’s physical and mental health and that’s why it’s an employer's responsibility to equip themselves with the skills needed to support mental health in the workplace.
With this said, here are our 4 top tips to help you reduce the risk of employee burnout in your company:
Hold regular mental health check-ins
In any business it’s normal for managers to have regular catch ups with employees to assess their professional performance.
But have you ever considered that checking in on their mental health is just as important?
Giving your employees the chance to confidentially divulge any workplace worries to you, will help you put measures in place if team members require support. The sooner any issues are nipped in the bud, the happier and more efficient your employees will be.
Dedicating time each month to catching up with your workforce, might also highlight a recurring issue across the team that requires more urgent attention.
According to a 2021 survey by CIPD 59% of those asked reported workload being the main cause of stress at work.
If staff are regularly reporting that their work life balance is being disrupted by having to work beyond their contracted hours, you may need to redelegate responsibilities across your team or consider recruiting to ease the workload
Working on a solution for this will alleviate some of the pressure your team feels and help avoid employee burnout.
Treat your team to regular incentives
A successful employer will strike a balance between leading their team to success and giving them the chance to celebrate their hard work.
To avoid employee burnout, it’s important to give your team plenty of opportunity to unwind and have fun.
Regular team outings are the perfect way for friendships to be strengthened. Friendships between colleagues often mean employees are happier in the workplace and have people to turn to should they begin to feel burnt out.
Being recognised for hard work will encourage your employees to feel positive about their achievements. The happier somebody feels about their career, the less likely they are to succumb to burnout.
We advise using staff incentives as a reward for targets being met; it will keep your team feeling motivated and give them something to look forward to.
Introduce a wellness initiative
If you’re an employer who hasn’t introduced a wellness initiative into your business, ask yourself, what’s stopping you?
Increasing employee engagement and reducing absenteeism are just a couple of the many benefits of wellness programs in the workplace.
There are many components you could include within the initiative which will have a positive impact on your employees wellbeing.
You could introduce additional days off to give your team more time to recharge their batteries and come back to work rejuvenated.
Encourage your employees to use this day for activities which will benefit their wellness, such as visiting the gym, reconnecting with nature or catching up with a loved one. This will allow them to return to work with a positive mindset and feeling refreshed.
Your wellness initiative will also be a great platform to share helpful advice about how your team can care for their mental health. Encourage them to drink plenty of water, eat well and get a good night's sleep so they are always ready to tackle their workload.
There are already some big names leading the way with their wellness initiatives. Google is a prime example of a company who goes above and beyond to care for their employees. They have an onsite fitness centre and healthcare services available such as physicians and physical therapy!
Asana, the web and mobile work management platform, have gone one step further and created ‘nap rooms’ for employees to take a rest throughout the day!
Here at Spencer Clarke Group we also have a Wellness in the Workplace initiative. Our employees are treated to a monthly £50 wellness voucher, quarterly recharge days, fresh fruit in the office, a reusable water bottle and caffeine free tea to help them feel on top form both physically and mentally.
Educate yourself
You can’t expect to recognise employee burnout without educating yourself on the signs to look out for.
The more awareness you have about this, the better the support you can provide.
How people display signs of burnout will vary from person to person. Generally however, signals include physical and emotional exhaustion, isolation and decreased productivity.
Educating yourself will also give your team the confidence that you have the skills and knowledge to help them should they need it.
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Since 2017, we've been changing the face of recruitment. From our employees, to the way we do business, to the culture within our office, we're determined to make a difference and create a positive impact on everyone around us.
Recruitment to us isn't just about matching candidates and clients; we’re passionate about finding candidates the perfect job which has the ability to boost their salary and standard of living, better their work life balance and improve their mental health.
Similarly, we understand the impact which an experienced and skilled employee can make to a business and we love seeing clients thrive through the hard work of candidates which we have placed with them.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing
Corporate Functions & Business Support
Planning, Development & Regeneration
Highways, Infrastructure & Engineering
If you’re searching for a new role, why not visit our job page to take a look at the latest opportunities? Alternatively, upload your CV and one of our experienced consultants will contact you when a relevant opportunity becomes available.
If you’re struggling to fill a role, why don’t you give us a call on 01772 954200 to see how we can help? One of our consultants will be happy to listen to the challenges which you are facing and advise on the best possible solution for you.
