Today’s world is busy, so employees’ health is more critical than ever. This is where the challenges of burnout come in while trying to create a healthy working culture for employees. The numbers on burnout and well-being can help HR leaders know what steps to take. Let’s look at some basic facts and their consequences for the workplace.

The Rising Impact of Burnout

Many employees are experiencing burnout, which decreases overall workplace performance and increases dissatisfaction. According to the Qualtrics Employee Experience Report 2023, 38% of workers now exhibit burnout. This figure should encourage HR managers to attend to their employees’ mental well-being.

Furthermore, burnt-out employees are likely to be less engaged in their work and, hence, have low performance and motivation. Therefore, stopping burnout should be of the utmost concern to HR leaders. To prevent burnout, one can introduce support programs. Organizations need to ensure that mental health services are available. They need to ensure employees are free to discuss issues related to stress and workload.

The Importance of Mental Health for Performance

Attention must be paid to the employee’s mental health in the workplace. According to recent research by Headspace in their Fifth Annual Workforce Attitudes Toward Mental Health, 2023, 91%  of CEOs and employees think they are more effective when mentally healthy. Mental health effects affect concentration, choice, cooperation, and even the willingness to work on the job. Employees’ mental health helps them be more productive, active, and effective.

HR professionals should strive to eliminate factors that hamper the mental health of their employees. This may involve offering psychological support, accommodating different working schedules, and promoting the topic of mental health. When organizations promote the mental health of their employees, they experience enhanced employee engagement and productivity. It is not only good for working people but also for the organization, as it brings positive results.

Work-Life Balance: A Major Challenge

Many employees today face the problem of finding a proper balance between work and personal life. As the Microsoft Work Trend Index shows, as of 2023, 64% of people complain about not having enough time and energy to perform their work. This highlights a serious problem: Most employees are experiencing burnout, which can be attributed to high work rates, longer working hours, and lack of boundaries between work and personal life.

When employees believe they are always connected and never have a chance to recharge, burnout is only a matter of time. The consequence is reduced efficiency as they get tired physically and mentally. To prevent this, HR should ensure flexible working hours, days off for mental health, and no work after working hours. When workers are given some time off work, they come back to work with more energy and concentration.

Burnout Among Younger Employees

Although burnout is common among all age brackets, it has become more common among young workers. According to the Slack Future Forum Pulse Report Fall 2022, 49% of employees between 18 and 29 said they feel burned out, while only 38% of employees aged 30 and above said the same. Newer workers, particularly millennials, can have more work pressure, particularly in their first jobs, which increases stress and burnout.

These workers may also have other difficulties, such as combining work with study or further education and adapting to the workplace after school. Young workers need more attention from HR teams, so they should pay attention to them and offer them mentorship, career advice, and training. This will assist them in improving morale and reducing stress levels in their positions.

HR’s Growing Responsibility

More and more, HR professionals understand that they have to act on mental health and wellbeing. The Headspace Fifth Annual Workforce Attitudes Toward Mental Health, 2023 survey showed that 94% of HR managers feel obliged to enhance the organization’s culture by promoting and supporting the employees’ mental health. This shift can be seen as part of the global approach, which states that Employee Wellbeing is not an HR matter but a business matter.

In this regard, the HR teams can develop measures that can help enhance the mental health support systems. This could mean having stress management classes, wellness programs such as yoga or meditation, or counselors available. HR teams should also make sure that there is a proper means for the employees to report their cases if they are overwhelmed. This means that when the organization supports the employees, they will be more committed and remain in the organization.

The Gender Gap in Burnout

Perhaps one of the most alarming trends highlighted in recent statistics is gender-related burnout. As of the Slack Future Forum Pulse Report Fall 2022, women employees are 32% more likely to be burned out than men. Several reasons may contribute to this disparity, including cultural norms and expectations, gender bias at the workplace, and other demands outside of work.

Women employees may also have to deal with the demands of the workplace and the demands of being a wife and a mother at home. To this end, the policies developed by HR professionals must be cognizant of all genders. This could include providing paid parental leave, a strong mentorship program for women, and ensuring women have the same chance as men at promotions. Thus, by promoting gender equality, the HR teams can decrease employee burnout and enhance their overall wellbeing.

Promoting a Healthier Culture at the Workplace

The solution to preventing burnout and boosting employees’ morale lies in cultivating a culture of mental health in the workplace. Organizations should encourage employees to share their mental health issues without being discriminated against by their colleagues. Sharing information about mental health at work can also help to break the stigma and enable workers to seek support if they need it.

Also, HR departments may include other forms of well-being programs besides mental health. This could include providing gym passes, nutritious food options, or even ergonomic workstations that help employees feel better. The idea should be to make employees believe their health is as valuable as their productivity.

Conclusion

Burnout is a critical problem that affects employees across different organizations and thus needs the attention of HR professionals. Knowing the statistics and causes of burnout, HR leaders can make changes to impact employees’ health positively. Through work arrangements, counseling, or other measures, it is up to HR to come up with positive changes.

Organizations can assist employees in feeling appreciated, recognized, and ready to contribute their most effective efforts. Learn more about Key Elements to Increase Your Employer Attractiveness