A survey conducted by the American Psychological Association reports that out of 1,501 working adults, 79% admitted that they had experienced work-related stress in their professional life. It is estimated that nearly half of all employees are affected by burnout at some point during their careers. 

Fortunately, there are things you can do to address the issue and prevent it from impacting your business as a whole. Here are some tips on how to reduce employee burnout and promote well-being in the workplace:

You Don’t Want a Burnt-Out Employee

Employee burnouts are the order of the day. Employees are struggling to cope with the demands of their jobs, which have become increasingly stressful. And you don’t want your employees to burn out.

Let’s talk for a moment about why this is the case. When an employee becomes burnt out, it can lead to absenteeism, poor performance and customer service levels, high turnover rates, reduced productivity levels, and ultimately higher costs for your organization. All of these factors will negatively impact your business.

As per the American Institute of Stress, US businesses faced huge losses due to depression-induced absenteeism from their employees. Statistics record that such happenings cost US businesses $51 billion a year plus an extra charge of $26 billion for the treatment. 

This statistic provides a worrisome picture of our work culture as it is. It shows how poor employee-wellbeing can affect the employees as well as the employers.

Understand Your Employees

Understanding what motivates your employees is crucial for providing them with mental health support. This can be achieved by taking steps to ensure that each employee feels valued, capable, respected, and trusted in their position within the workplace environment. 

These factors will contribute towards an overall positive experience for all staff members. This, in turn, will result in a higher level of commitment towards the company as well as enhanced productivity levels. 

Learn to Identify the Signs of Burnout

It’s important to learn the signs and symptoms of burnout so that you can quickly recognize when your employees are suffering from it.

Burnout is similar to stress, but there are some key differences between the two states. A person who is experiencing stress will be able to identify what sources their feelings are coming from, but someone with burnout usually has no idea where it comes from or why they feel the way they do. 

Stress is normal at work because everyone experiences challenges at their jobs. However, if these challenges become overwhelming for you or your employees, then this could lead them toward burnout. 

Signs of burnout include: feeling tired all the time, feeling stressed out about tasks at work even though you’ve finished them already, and having trouble concentrating on tasks because your mind keeps wandering off elsewhere.

Most Employees Are Helpless Against Burnout

As an employee, you may be aware that you are getting burnt out. You might feel like your job is wearing away at you and taking its toll on your mind, body, and spirit. But you don’t know what to do about it.

For starters, employees need to be able to talk about their problems and concerns without fear of reprisal or judgment from their employers or colleagues. They must feel safe and comfortable enough to open up about burnout issues with others. 

Employees also need to know that there’s a support network for burnout victims at work, for example, through counseling services offered by external providers or by the company itself.

Offer Them Support by Talking to Them

Once you have identified an employee who is experiencing burnout, the worst thing you can do is to ignore their problems. This will only make them feel like they are being judged and not trusted. Instead, offer them support by talking to them and advising them on how they can tackle their problem.

You should also ask other employees what they think of this particular person’s performance at work. Do they seem stressed? Or do they appear happy and motivated? If there are any concerns about an employee going through a period of burnout, managers, and colleagues need to speak up so that action can be taken.

Don’t Impose Your Ideas on Them

To keep an employee from burning out, it’s important to give them some control over their work. This can be done in a few different ways. One is by giving your employees the option of choosing what tasks they want to do and how long they want to do them. Another is by giving them a choice between two or more activities that you would like them to perform. 

If an employee follows through with something that isn’t working for them and ends up getting burnt out because of it, then we’ve failed as managers. Give your people options so that nobody ever feels forced into doing something that isn’t right for their situation or personality.

Give Them a Little Break

For some employees, what they need is a little break to recharge their batteries. It might seem counterintuitive to ask your employees to take some time off when they feel overwhelmed by work, but permitting them to step away from the office can help them get more done when they return.

If your employees are feeling burned out and overworked at the office, encourage them to take some time off to rest their minds. You can take some affirmative actions by yourself as well. You can even plan an office happy hour or have a fun outing together with the team. 

An office happy hour will allow them to decompress and enjoy some much-needed mental respite from the daily grind of work life. It’s also an excellent way for them to connect with their coworkers beyond work.

We tend to forget that our employees can also be ambiverts. They need time alone, but they also need social interaction with others. Sometimes even the smallest thing can help, such as a quick chat with a colleague in the kitchenette, or asking them how their day went when they return from lunch break. 

It’s important not only for your sanity but also theirs so that they feel valued and appreciated by you and the team.

Conclusion

If your employees are having a hard time at work, it’s time to get involved. It’s not enough to just focus on the work and ignore their personal lives because burnout is a serious issue. If you want your workers to be productive and happy, it’s important to have an open line of communication with them, so they feel comfortable discussing any issues about work.