Burnout is like that unexpected rainstorm on a sunny day—it hits hard and leaves you feeling drained. But as HR folks, we've got your back. Let's break it down in simpler terms, so you can better identify it in your staff and help combat it.
What's Burnout?
1. It's Not Just You: Burnout doesn't discriminate. It can hit anyone, from the newbie to the seasoned pro. You might be feeling it as an entrepreneur, yourself, with everything you need to balance.
2. It's Not a Passing Phase: Ignoring burnout won't make it magically disappear. It isn't something you can expect staff to just buckle down and get through until business conditions improve. It's real and it can be a serious drain on engagement, retention and productivity.
How Employers Can Help
1. Find Your Balance: Work is important, but so is downtime. Make sure staff have options for breaks, and if they look like they can't spend even a minute away from their desks, speak up and advocate for balance. A short break from work will do wonders for creativity and innovation.
2. Take Time for Self-Care: There are often resources that you can deploy to your teams that can put the tools in their hands to overcome their issues. An Employee Assistance Program, or EAP, is often offered by healthcare providers. Even just making sure your staff have ways to communicate up the chain can cure a lot of what holds people back.
3. Spread the Love: Create a work environment where appreciation flows freely, and support is always on tap. Make sure you're modeling gratitude by thanking your staff often, both individually and as a group. Recognition is hugely meaningful to everyone.
Above all, as your business grows and changes, make sure you have the right people - and enough people - in place to do what needs to get done. While an extra staff member may be expensive, you must balance it against the cost of leaving market share on the table. If this is something you've been thinking about, reach out to Sara and Michelle for help!
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