Workforce surveys around the world suggest that employee burnout – already a significant problem – may be getting worse. For employers, this can mean a costly drag on productivity. When workers are exhausted and emotionally distant from their jobs, they are unable to perform at their best and are more likely to make mistakes. They are also more likely to leave their jobs – draining the organization of skills, knowledge and experience. Burnout at work can also affect all aspects of life, from health and relationships to career and finances.
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Why is burnout such a difficult problem? Perhaps because many organizations have been applying ineffective solutions. They view burnout as an individual problem, for example, and focus on helping employees become more resilient, without making meaningful changes to the work environment. Perhaps the causes of burnout can be longstanding practises and habits of behavior – sometimes tied up with an organization’s identity, where change is hard.
Recent research suggests a path forward.