Employees are burning out. You can see it in their glazing eyes, loud sighs, and slouching shoulders. But you might not realize how serious the situation is until you do a quick Google search and discover that burnout can cause severe health problems and even death.
This will make your business suffer financially and reputationally. If you want your employees to stay healthy, happy, and productive at work and save your businesses, it’s crucial to take measures to prevent or cure it.
Employee Burnout Should Not Be Taken Lightly
Did you know that nearly 48% of employees and 53% of managers experience burnout? This is a severe issue for the employees experiencing it and the company they work for. If your employees are amongst them, you need to take immediate measures.
Employee burnout can lead to depression and substance abuse, lower productivity, higher turnover rates, absenteeism from work due to illness – the list goes on. If your employees are showing signs of burnout, then there’s no time like the present to take action to help them recover before the problem gets worse.
Plan Happy Hours Once a Week
A happy hour is an excellent way for employees to come together and bond, especially if you put some effort into planning it. You can make your happy hour anything from an informal chat over meals or an organized outing where you all go somewhere fun.
The definition of fun varies. It can be bowling, karaoke, mini golfing, or whatever works. You must devise creative happy hour ideas ensuring the participation of both online and offline employees. The idea here is to assist everyone in getting out of their slump.
Encourage Employees to Take Vacations
In the United States, roughly 50% of workers use their paid vacation time sparingly. This is a big problem. Your employees must rest and relax. Decompressing helps maintain their energy levels and maximize their productivity at work.
Vacations allow employees to recharge their batteries, return refreshed, and return with renewed vigor for their job duties. Here are some suggestions to urge staff to use holiday leave:
- Make it easy for employees to take vacations – Make sure that the company has a simple and easy process for employees to take time off. This involves establishing a systematic approach for authorizing and monitoring employees’ vacation leaves.
- Assure their job security – Sometimes, employees are hesitant to take time off because they fear their job will jeopardize. If this is the case, discuss their concerns and assure them that their position within the company is secure.
- Help with their fear of piled-up work – Sometimes, employees are afraid to take time off because they fear their workload will pile up while they’re away. If this is the case, ensure that employees know the company has a system for handling extra workloads without worrying about it.
- Sponsor their vacation – If you have the budget, consider sponsoring your team members’ vacations by paying for a portion of their travel costs. This can helps them save money on their trips.
- Give paid time off – If you cannot sponsor a team member’s vacation, consider giving them paid time off instead. This shows that you value their time away from work, making it more likely that they’ll use their vacation days.
- Help with their inability to disconnect – If your employees cannot disconnect from work even when they’re on vacation, consider creating a digital detox policy. This will help them escape their devices and fully enjoy the world around them.
- Offer company discounts – If your company has discounts available through partners, consider offering them to employees. This helps ensure they get the most out of their time off and doesn’t strain their and the company’s budget.
These measures are essential to ensure your company doesn’t suffer the consequences of employee burnout financially or in terms of productivity. If you’ve implemented these measures in your company, consider rewarding yourself with a vacation too.
Allow Flexible Work Schedules
As companies like Lyft, Google, Twitter, and Vista have implemented permanent work-from-home (PWFH) or hybrid models, it’s time for your company to consider this as well. Flexible work schedules are highly beneficial because they help employees manage their time better, reduce stress, and increase productivity. Employees can choose their hours and have control over their schedules.
The flexibility also improves morale and reduces burnout among employees who feel they’re being forced into an environment where they are not wanted or respected. You’ll encourage a healthier workplace culture by allowing flexible work schedules and increasing employee satisfaction.
Encourage Feedback and Suggestions
Regarding employee burnout, it’s essential to recognize that each person has different causes and solutions. If you want to find out what kind of burnout your employees are experiencing, ask them.
The best way to do this is by encouraging employee feedback and suggestions. With just 21% of employees feeling that their boss considers their opinion and encourages them to ask for help, it’s time to move away from the traditional command and control style of management.
Allow your team workers to speak their minds, express their concerns, provide feedback, and ask questions. There are many ways to encourage feedback and suggestions from employees; these include:
- Holding regular meetings to discuss progress and plans.
- Asking employees for feedback post-project completion
- Creating a suggestion box for employees to submit ideas anonymously.
- Holding regular brainstorming sessions with your team.
- Fostering an honest and open culture by empowering your staff to speak freely.
Try applying these strategies to establish a great working atmosphere where employees feel appreciated, acknowledged, and heard.
Set Realistic Expectation
In a recent survey, 57% of US workers said their chronic stress resulted from unrealistic expectations. If you are going to cure employee burnout, you need to set realistic goals for your employees.
If you give someone a new task or position, provide them with enough time and resources to accomplish it. Ensure your employees understand what they need to do and why it’s essential, so they are not overwhelmed by new responsibilities.
Finally, make sure the goals are attainable. Don’t set unrealistic deadlines if it means that your team member will be working around the clock to get things done on time. Here are a few tips to follow:
- Hire more people if necessary.
- Promote a pleasant work-life balance.
- Set attainable timelines and expectations.
- Give staff the access they require to fulfill their duties.
- Refrain from overloading your employees with too many responsibilities.
- Provide training in how to do the job correctly.
- Hold regular meetings with your employees.
Promote Health and Wellness
Some companies have taken the initiative to promote a healthy and balanced workplace environment, particularly for their employees. You can join, too, by implementing the following measures:
- Provide healthy food options – Providing nutritious meals in your office or giving employees a food allowance can contribute to employee productivity, as nutritious meals give them the energy to get through their day without having to leave the office for lunch (go here for more details).
- Encourage frequent breaks throughout the day – It might be as simple as taking ten minutes every hour, stretching, getting some air, etc. By doing this, you’ll be helping them relax during stressful situations, which will ultimately improve productivity over time.
- Encourage exercise at work – If you have the space, consider having an exercise room or an area where employees can walk around. You could even set up a treadmill or stationary bike in a conference room if needed.
Similarly, you can also consider on-site daycare, mental health checkups, counseling, etc. These will aid in lowering the burden and enhance staff wellness, resulting in increased production for your organization.
Conclusion
While it might be easy to feel discouraged about employee burnout when you’re in the middle of it, there are ways to fight against it. Burnout prevention is possible, and if you can recognize the signs early on, you’ll be able to address them before they become a problem for your employees or your business.
The best way to prevent this type of stress is by ensuring everyone has an outlet for their feelings. If that doesn’t work, at least ensure they know who can help them when things get too much. Don’t let them succumb to burnout for their and your own sake.
