Noticing disengaged employees, increased absenteeism, high employee turnover, and poor productivity can be signs that worry HR managers greatly. In this article, we discuss the impact of burnout on employee performance, as well as strategies to combat this phenomenon. In Dalili Medical, we will highlight how to enhance emotional intelligence in the workplace as an effective means of protecting against burnout and contributing to creating a healthier and more productive workforce.

Is burnout a mental illness?

 

No, burnout is not a mental illness in itself. According to the World Health Organization, it is a syndrome resulting from chronic stress in the workplace.

How can you avoid burnout?

 

To avoid burnout, it is essential to manage time effectively, take breaks, and practice relaxation exercises. It is also recommended to get social support and take care of your physical health by following a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and a balanced diet.

What are the signs of burnout?

 

Signs of burnout include feeling physically and emotionally exhausted, losing enthusiasm and motivation, emotionally detached from work and colleagues, and decreased productivity. One of the most serious symptoms is feeling a failure or incompetence.

What is the difference between burnout and job burnout?

 

Burnout is a comprehensive concept that addresses various aspects of life, including work, personal relationships, and hobbies. In contrast, job burnout focuses only on the professional side, is a result of work pressures, and may not necessarily affect other areas of life.

What are the dimensions of burnout?

 

The dimensions of burnout typically include physical and emotional exhaustion, detachment from the work environment, decreased personal achievement or productivity, and loss of motivation to work. These dimensions reflect the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of burnout that individuals experience in their professional contexts.

**The most important jobs that suffer from burnout**

 

Health sector jobs, such as doctors and nurses, are the most vulnerable to burnout rates, due to their close connection to people's lives and destinies. In 2021, 41% of doctors reported experiencing this phenomenon, and 96% of them acknowledged that work-related stress is one of the most prominent challenges they face on an ongoing basis. In second place are those in senior positions in large companies and important positions in governments, in addition to stock market employees and workers in the stock market sector. In addition, there are many other jobs whose owners suffer from constant anxiety and stress, such as engineers, social service employees, drivers, fast food restaurant workers, sales representatives, real estate workers, lawyers, and others.

**What is burnout?**

 

Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion resulting from excessive stress and constant pressure at work. Burnout can lead to a range of health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

Is burnout chronic?

Not necessarily, burnout is not a one-time injury, but rather a state of chronic stress. Burnout can last for months or years if not dealt with properly. The duration of burnout varies from one person to another depending on several factors, such as: the degree of burnout, the person's psychological flexibility, the speed of diagnosing and identifying the problem, and the ease of access to treatment and medication.

Can burnout be chronic?

 

Not necessarily, burnout is not just a one-time condition, but rather a form of chronic stress. Burnout can last for months or even years if not dealt with appropriately. The duration of the injury varies from one person to another based on several factors, such as: the severity of burnout, the individual's psychological flexibility, the speed of identifying and diagnosing the problem, and the ease of access to treatment.

What are the consequences of burnout?

 

Burnout can have significant negative effects on mental and physical health, including:

1. Depression or anxiety: Burnout may develop into depression or anxiety, which negatively affects mental and physical health.

2. Sleep disorders: Burnout can lead to chronic sleep problems, such as insomnia.

3. Difficulty concentrating: Job burnout can cause difficulty concentrating, making appropriate decisions, or completing tasks at work.

4. Associated health problems: Job burnout can lead to other health problems, such as headaches, colon pain, and high blood pressure.

5. Decreased productivity: Job burnout can lead to a decline in productivity.

### Causes of job burnout

Although the abundance of work and responsibilities is considered one of the most prominent causes of job burnout, there are many other factors that may lead you to this condition that requires immediate treatment. The most important causes of job burnout are:

#### Unfair treatment at work** Employees who are subjected to unfair treatment in the work environment are 2.3 times more likely to burn out. Bias, favoritism, and mistreatment by management or colleagues are all forms of unfair treatment. In addition, unfair compensation or unfair company policies, as well as harassment and racism that some female or minority employees may suffer from, also contribute to this problem.

**Unmanageable Workload** According to a survey conducted at the end of 2020, 45% of individuals who moved to remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic reported that they are working more than they were before. Even more alarming is thatAnd about 70% of them reported working weekends. The workload has continued to increase even after the pandemic subsided, leaving many employees working well beyond their normal working hours. These increased pressures quickly lead to workloads that become unmanageable. Even high-performing employees can feel overwhelmed as their workloads become more difficult to handle.

**Role uncertainty** Nearly half of employees are unsure of what is expected of them in their jobs, and they struggle to define what success means to them. This feeling of lack of support and purpose contributes to burnout.

**Lack of communication and support from management** Employees who feel supported by management are nearly 70% less likely to experience burnout. Conversely, those who do not feel this support are more likely to suffer from this syndrome. This problem can be addressed by providing regular, supportive conversations between employees and their direct managers, as well as establishing clear lines of communication with HR, especially if employees do not feel comfortable speaking directly to their managers.

**Unreasonable time pressure** When employees express that they feel they have enough time to complete their tasks, they are 70% less likely to experience burnout. Feeling competent is often considered a virtue, but when employees are pressured to rush through work, the quality of their performance can suffer. This can lead to a decrease in their sense of pride in themselves, increasing their risk of job burnout. On the other hand, disappointment with career expectations is one of the main causes of burnout. The good news is that these negative feelings can be avoided once you recognize them and work on addressing them, whether you are an employee or a manager.

What are the most prominent signs of job burnout?

 

Compassion fatigue: Compassion fatigue is a sign of losing the ability to feel compassion for people who rely on your support, and is a symptom of burnout.

Withdrawal: People who suffer from burnout tend to isolate themselves from others, which leads to reduced social interaction and loss of trust in colleagues and family members.

Fatigue and exhaustion: Burnout causes signs of fatigue and exhaustion, which can sometimes be physical or mental.

Irritability: As burnout levels increase, a person becomes more likely to lose control of their temper, which leads to greater irritability towards others.

**Recourse to drugs:** Burnout can sometimes lead to resorting to drugs or alcohol as a means of relieving the symptoms associated with it, which is one of the most prominent signs indicating burnout.

**Mistreatment of others:** The impact of job burnout is not limited to feeling compassionate, but it can also lead to mistreatment of others in some cases, such as parents treating their children inappropriately, or managers mistreating their subordinates.

**Difficulty sleeping:** Individuals who are exposed to job burnout suffer from difficulty sleeping frequently, and this may be a result of poor self-care and constant fatigue.

Increased health problems: Job burnout contributes to the exacerbation of the health problems that the person suffers from, as this includes increased headaches and the appearance of joint pain.

How can I know if I have job burnout?

 

Job burnout is usually defined by a group of symptoms that appear together. The most prominent of these symptoms are:

1. A constant feeling of stress and exhaustion on both the physical and emotional levels.

2. Continuous feelings of detachment from work, job, or surrounding reality.

3. A constant feeling of lack of accomplishment or inability to influence and be effective at work.

4. Decline in productivity and difficulty concentrating. Work burnout may also be accompanied by physical symptoms such as chronic headaches, sleep disturbances, or digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome. These symptoms must be present on an ongoing basis to properly diagnose the condition.

**Dimensions of Work Burnout** When discussing the dimensions of work burnout, one cannot ignore the research conducted by American social psychologist Christina Maslach, who identified three main dimensions of burnout: emotional exhaustion, negative attitude toward work, and decreased personal accomplishment.

**Emotional exhaustion**: Emotional exhaustion refers to the feeling of being drained and exhausted by the demands of work. Individuals suffering from this type of burnout may feel that they are no longer able to give, and that their resources have been depleted. Symptoms may also include physical effects such as headaches, fatigue, and insomnia.

**Negative attitude toward work**: This dimension includes feeling cynicism or resentment towards work tasks, which may lead to decreased empathy with colleagues or clients, and an increased tendency to withdraw emotionally from work relationships. Individuals may become more distant or disconnected, which negatively impacts communication and collaboration.

**Decreased personal accomplishment**: Decreased personal accomplishment refers to a feeling of decreased efficiency or performance at work. Individuals experiencing this decline may feel that their work lacks meaning or that they are not making an impact, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt, and thus burnout can be exacerbated.

These three dimensions overlap, and each can reinforce the other. Therefore, it is essential to understand them in order to identify the signs of burnout, take effective steps to prevent it from worsening, and seek support when needed. In today’s demanding and stressful work environment, emotional intelligence is a vital tool forPromoting employee mental health and organizational success. But let’s start by defining emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the ability to understand the emotions of others. In the context of job burnout, emotional intelligence is particularly important, as individuals with high levels of emotional intelligence are better able to deal with sources of stress, which helps them maintain their resilience and avoid burnout. Some of the key skills that emotional intelligence helps develop to overcome job burnout are:

**Identifying and addressing sources of stress:** Employees with high emotional intelligence are able to identify sources of stress in themselves and their colleagues. They also have the ability to recognize early signs of burnout and take proactive steps to mitigate its effects.

**Enhancing resilience:** Emotional intelligence helps individuals build strong resilience, which helps them recover from trauma and deal effectively with work stress. This resilience reduces the chances of job burnout and enhances overall safety in the workplace.

**Encourage open communication:** A workplace that values ​​emotional intelligence fosters open communication and honest discussions about feelings and challenges. This allows employees to feel comfortable expressing their concerns and seeking support, which helps address issues before they escalate and reduces the risk of burnout.

Promote positive and supportive relationships: Employees with high emotional intelligence are more likely to empathize and support their colleagues, listening to them, encouraging them, and offering help when needed. This helps create an environment of trust and belonging, which reduces the chances of burnout.

Emphasize self-care and create a healthy work environment: Individuals with high emotional intelligence place great importance on self-care, and recognize the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. They also encourage others to do the same, which promotes healthy habits such as taking breaks, setting boundaries, and participating in activities that promote well-being.

**Elements of an effective workplace to protect employees from burnout**

Creating a healthy and effective work environment is essential to successful HR management. This includes fostering a work culture that focuses on employee well-being, engagement, and productivity, which helps reduce the chances of burnout. Key elements of a healthy workplace include:

Promoting physical and mental health: Encouraging regular exercise, providing healthy food options, and offering mental health resources such as counseling or stress management programs can all help boost employees’ overall health.

**Promoting positive relationships and communication:** This includes creating opportunities for team-building activities, encouraging open and honest communication, and fostering a supportive environment where employees feel valued and respected, which can help foster collaboration and team spirit.

**Promoting work-life balance:** This includes implementing flexible work systems, promoting vacation policies, and respecting work-life boundaries, which can help employees achieve a healthy balance and, in turn, reduce stress and burnout.

**Stages of burnout:**

Interestingly, the first stage of burnout is known as the honeymoon, as the institution of marriage and burnout syndrome appear similar, at least in stereotype. Let’s take a break and review the five stages:

**The Honeymoon Stage**As with a traditional honeymoon, you start this new stage with high energy and enthusiasm, making you feel creative and productive. It’s easy to be optimistic during this time, and while it’s ideal to continue feeling this way, you should be careful. Your enthusiasm, commitment to your work, and desire to prove yourself can lead to you taking on too many responsibilities, which can leave you feeling overwhelmed. If you don’t have positive strategies for coping with stress, you may find yourself moving on to the next stage.

**The Onset of Stress Stage**As time goes on, you may notice that some days are more challenging than others. Work still feels rewarding, but stress is starting to creep in. You may find that your optimism is diminishing and your productivity is affected. You may also notice common symptoms of stress affecting you and your performance, such as fatigue, irritability, anxiety, easy loss of focus, changes in appetite or diet, lack of sleep, or even headaches, prompting you to move on to the next stage.

**Burnout Stage**When you reach this stage, your symptoms become severe, and you can’t function as you used to. It becomes difficult for you to cope with the demands of work and life, and you may find it difficult to see a way out of your current circumstances. You feel overwhelmed physically, mentally, and emotionally, and you may become pessimistic about work and life. Your physical symptoms may increase significantly, making it easy for those close to you to notice the dramatic change in you. **Habitual Burnout Stage**If left untreated, burnout symptoms will become an integral part of your life, which can lead to significant and lasting mental, physical, and emotional problems, such as chronic fatigue and depression. It will be difficult for you to return to your normal life, and what’s more dangerous is that the constant mental and physical fatigue you experience may eventually force you to stop working in order to recover. You may also need to seek help and support from a healthcare professional. Unfortunately, the symptoms of burnout are often ignored until they are severe and advanced. So, it’s important to understand the stages of burnout so you can identify which stage you’re currently in, which will help you seek treatment before things get worse.

**What are the risks associated with a negative work environment?**

 

A negative work environment increases the likelihood of burnoutq Job burnout, which greatly affects employee safety and the success of the organization, and this is manifested in multiple negative outcomes. Here are some of the main risks associated with a negative work environment and its relationship to job burnout:

- **Decreased productivity:** Job burnout is associated with a decline in productivity levels among employees, as they face difficulty maintaining their focus and motivation in an unfavorable work environment.

- **Increased absenteeism:** Job burnout often leads to high rates of absence, as employees feel physically or emotionally exhausted, making them unable to cope with the demands of the job.

- **High resignation rates:** Employees who suffer from job burnout as a result of a negative work environment are more likely to look for new job opportunities, which leads to increased resignation rates and thus increased costs associated with it to the organization.

- **Low morale:** A negative work environment contributes to the erosion of positive morale among employees, leading to feelings of dissatisfaction and discomfort.

- **Impact on organizational culture:** Job burnout can spread quickly in the workplace, negatively affecting the organizational culture in general.

**Burnout Treatment**

Burnout treatment requires a comprehensive strategy that includes all social, psychological, and physical aspects. Here are some tips that may help you recover:

- Make sure to get enough rest and relaxation, as they are among the best means of treatment. You can practice relaxing activities such as listening to music, reading a book, or enjoying watching nature.

- Take care of yourself, as the three factors that contribute to recovering from burnout are: healthy nutrition, adequate sleep, and exercise.

- Take short breaks ranging from five to ten minutes during the workday. These periods help you relax and regain your energy.

- Set clear boundaries between work and personal life, as the balance between them is very important, especially if you work remotely. Set a time to finish work and do not exceed it.

- Practice meditation and relaxation, as there are many exercises such as progressive muscle relaxation or five-minute mindfulness meditation at your desk, which helps you clear your mind.

Be sure to express your feelings, such as talking to a friend or anyone with whom you feel comfortable and safe.

Seek support from a professional, and do not hesitate to inform your manager that you need psychological counseling to deal with your situation.