The Connection Between Employee Burnout and Mental Health

Burnout - an occupational phenomenon, that has always been a threat but the rising concern has now become rampant due to COVID-19. Many employees have reached a point of complete exhaustion and have left their jobs in favour of better mental health. Studies report burnout prevalence rates of up to 69% in a given population (Burnout Research, Linda V. Heinemann and Torsten Heinemann, 2017). This clearly has led leaders and managers to make sure they address the issue before it makes matters worse.

In this blog let’s understand what burnout can look like, employee burnout causes and cures, and the connection between burnout and mental health.

What is burnout?

Originating in the 1970s, Freudenberger described burnout as the state of being burned out as “becoming exhausted by making excessive demands on energy, strength, or resources” in the workplace. The term burnout has been carefully studied and while scientists still haven’t termed it a ‘mental health disorder’, it has become a significant concern for mental health and well-being. The World Health Organization (WHO) has now included burnout in its International Classification of Diseases, describing it as “a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

Burnout goes much deeper than mere tiredness, stress or fatigue. A person might feel hopeless and might just feel checked out with work and everyday tasks. Burnout is a feeling of complete exhaustion, emotional blunting, frustration, anger and the inability to take effort or interest in any given task. 

For example, imagine an executive working for a fast-paced company. They are constantly under pressure to meet strict deadlines and attend numerous meetings. Despite the passion they once had for their job, the workload becomes overwhelming. They start experiencing physical and mental exhaustion, struggle to focus on tasks and find themselves emotionally drained. These continuous incidents lead to a productivity decline, and they may begin to detach from their work and colleagues. 

Understanding the importance of mental health in the workplace

Mental health at work has now become a pressing factor for leaders and employers. A lot of factors that contribute to a healthy and happy workplace stem from sound employee mental health. Mental health and well-being encompasses a person’s mental and emotional state that is not only influenced by factors at work but also by personal and other external aspects. This makes it complex for leaders to identify what exactly is affecting the mental health of employees. 

So, how can leaders effectively identify signs of burnout?

Envision this: A dire problem has occurred. You’re surrounded by the chaos among people around you. Despite feeling shocked, you are unable to do anything about it. You just stare as everything collapses with absolutely no motivation or persuasion to take any action. It could be because you’ve tried to fix multiple problems before or there are many such recurring problems.

This is just an idea to show how being burnt out feels. While several people might react to it in different ways, burnout can be characterised by a lack of emotional expression and a lack of motivation. This is how burnout reflects in employees’ productivity and reduces their passion to give successful results.

The link between employee burnout and mental health

Employee burnout and mental health are closely related, such that sometimes either depend on the other. Burnout is a state of severe exhaustion due to excessive workplace stress, reduced productivity and passion, and feeling emotionally drained. A person’s mental health encompasses various factors affecting a person’s mental, emotional, physical, and social well-being. 

Let’s explore a few examples where mental health and employee burnout depend on each other. 

• Burnout can affect your cognitive functions like memory, attention, social cognition and visuospatial skills. These cognitive impairments affect a person’s ability to cope with daily stressors and also contribute to various mental health conditions.

• Burnout might also affect your energy, will, or motivation to socialise. This can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and social withdrawal; and can lead to mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

• Burnout or chronic stress can also trigger or aggravate pre-existing mental health concerns. For example, if a person has a genetic susceptibility, burnout can trigger or worsen the condition.

• People struggling with mental health concerns may be more susceptible to burnout. This could be due to reduced resilience to daily stressors, lack of coping skills, difficulty in managing time, and more. This can make it difficult for them to cope with the pressures and demands of work.

• The interdependence of burnout and mental health can often become a straining cycle—with one leading to the other and vice versa. For example, a person who feels burnt out may start showing signs of depression or anxiety; and these symptoms can make it challenging for the individual to feel exhausted and burnt out at work.

Recognising signs and symptoms of burnout

Burnout can often go unnoticed. It grows subtly and it's important to recognise early signs of burnout to find an early solution. Freudenberger- who coined the term ‘burnout’- described the state of being burned out as “becoming exhausted by making excessive demands on energy, strength, or resources” in the workplace (Freudenberger, 1974, p. 159). 

According to him, burnout is characterized by physical symptoms such as exhaustion, fatigue, frequent headaches and gastrointestinal disorders, sleeplessness, and shortness of breath. Behavioural signs include frustration, anger, a suspicious attitude, a feeling of omnipotence or overconfidence, excessive use of tranquillizers and barbiturates, cynicism, and signs of depression.

Some common mental and physical symptoms of burnout include:

• Headaches

• Changes In Sleep Patterns

• Body aches

• Fatigue

• Heart Palpitations

• Constipation or diarrhoea

• Muscle tension

• Sexual dysfunction

• Weakened immune system

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Lack of motivation

• Irritability

• Trouble concentrating

• Forgetfulness

Recovering from burnout can take weeks, months, and even years. Employees and employers must recognise the potential mental and physical health signs of burnout before they become chronic. This can help them pull themselves back and work on the early symptoms before it becomes too difficult to recover. Some early symptoms of burnout can look like this:

• Feeling exhausted

• Lack of enthusiasm for work

• Increased worry about tasks

• Irritability

• Mood swings

The impact of burnout on workplace and organisational success

Employee burnout and mental health issues can significantly affect workplace dynamics, culture and overall organisational success. According to a study by Gallup, nearly 3 in 10 millennials are very often or always burned out at work and about 7 in 10 experience at least some burnout. It impairs both - personal and social functioning. The decline in work, health and social ways can turn costly for not only the individual but the entire workplace. 

Let’s look at the impact of burnout on various workplace factors:

• Employee engagement: Burnout can reduce a person’s passion and purpose to work. They might feel disconnected from the purpose. While engaged employees might tend to go the extra mile to complete a task, an employee who is burnout may feel disengaged and may do just the bare minimum at work. 

• Organisational culture: Burnout can reflect on the morale of the entire organisation and also increase turnover, absenteeism, and presenteeism.

According to a 2020 survey (Eagle Hill Consulting), 36% of employees said their workplace wasn’t doing anything about burnout. It may seem easy to ignore the problem but the consequences can affect the organisation’s quality and image. A workplace that values employee mental well-being is more likely to retain employees and also skilled individuals. Employees who feel engaged are more likely to stay committed to the organisation’s goals.

Preventing and addressing employee burnout and mental health issues

It is time that organisations recognise the impact of work-related stress and burnout on employee mental health and prioritize initiatives that promote well-being. Employee assistance programs (EWPs) are a valuable resource that offers confidential therapy and psychiatry support for personal and work-related concerns. By providing access to mental health professionals, employees can receive guidance to manage stress and overcome mental health issues.

Mental health resources such as workshops, newsletters and webinars on stress management, mindfulness, and resilience can equip employees with coping strategies and help them avoid being burnt out.

Employee engagement and participation play a pivotal role in the success of these initiatives. Organizations should actively involve employees in the design and implementation of well-being programs. Employee surveys can help identify specific needs and preferences. This can be worked upon with initiatives that are tailored to meet their requirements.

More and more organisations like Microsoft,  Ernst & Young, Nivea, Godrej, Acko, and more are listening and realising the importance of comprehensive mental health benefits. A few are also leading the way in improving their company culture and benefits to put mental health first (American Psychological Association, 2021).

How Amaha’s EWP Program can help?

Amaha can help you create a better place for your employees. By focusing on their mental well-being, we have created tools that can help you assess employees’ moods and help them understand their concerns.

• Amaha’s self-care app can help your employees benefit from over 600+ self-help activities that can help them relax and find balance even on hectic days. This can help them learn coping skills for managing stress, anxiety which in turn can increase resilience. 

• Clinically validated surveys can help you with getting insight into specific conditions and how your employees are feeling. You can identify the problem areas and our team can help you find customised solutions to improve your employees’ mental health.

• Employees can also access in-person and online therapy and psychiatry services. This can give them a safe space to talk about their concerns and find professional support. 

• Employees can engage with newsletters and webinars that can help them understand psychological and mental health concepts. This can keep them updated and act as a reminder for them to prioritise their mental well-being.

Workplace stress and burnout have become prevalent challenges in organisations, posing significant consequences for both employees and overall organisational performance. However, by recognising the importance of employee well-being and taking proactive steps to address these issues from a workplace perspective, organisations can foster a healthier and more productive work environment.