It’s official: Burnout is in the air and many employees are starting to feel the ‘year-end slump’ creeping in.
At this stage, everyday pressures and excessive workloads begin to take their toll, and the impact on your business and it’s bottom-line cannot be overlooked.
Why so low?
Experts attribute low morale and ultimately burnout to five key factors, namely:
- Unfair treatment at work
- Alack of role clarity
- Unmanageable workloads
- A lack of communication and support
- Constant time pressures.
And while employees will grapple with one or more of these factors for months on end, the majority of burnout takes place in November and December each year.
Company culture and burnout
The reality for most employers is that we don’t see it coming until it’s here and it is affecting the company’s productivity and wellness of its team. And contrary to popular belief, the deep-rooted issue often boils down to company culture. As the leader of the organisation, it’s important that you take charge and analyse the way in which work is done and how employees are treated. Often, the burnout culture comes from systemic issues in the business.
In some cases, the environment itself may be toxic and it might be time to change the culture and the way in which things are done.
Practical tips to help change the burnout culture
The good news is that burnout can be beat out of the organisation. Here are our top five tips:
Culture
As mentioned, it’s never too late to improve the company culture. Whether it’s small tweaks or major shifts, it should be one of your top priorities. Work closely with employees to determine what they want and roll-out a constructive plan that is fair and will benefit all parties.
Balance
One of the best ways to attract and retain motivated staff is through work-life balance.Employees should feel comfortable knowing that they can set boundaries. If you know that a particular employee is responding to emails late at night or is being contacted after hours, try and put boundaries in place to protect their personal time.
Personal development
Invest in your employees’ personal and professional development through workshops, conferences and training programs. This helps to bolster growth and development in the workplace.
Communication
An open-door policy goes a long way. Rather than waiting for the point of breakdown, encourage everyone to talk openly and express their feelings.
Flexibility
A lot of employees are particularly affected by loadshedding and traffic at the moment. Help reduce stress in the workplace by offering some flexibility when it comes to work hours in office.
