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What are the 3 Main Symptoms of Workplace Burnout?

Workplace Burnout is a very big problem for employers and can lead to a range of problems. Therefore, having knowledge of workplace burnout is important.

One of the best ways of building knowledge is to be able to spot the main signs and symptoms of workplace burnout. In this article, we explore these areas in further detail.

As a quick reminder, workplace burnout is defined as chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It can cause both physical and mental problems.

The 3 Main Symptoms

While it can sometimes be difficult to identify a person suffering with burnout, the signs are there.

A person with burnout will typically feel tired, irritable, unmotivated, cynical and have low mood. It will almost appear as if they have given up.

In the World Health Organisation’s definition of burnout, they put forward 3 main symptoms:

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1.    Exhaustion

2.    Negativity

3.    Ineffectiveness

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We will delve into these further. These three symptoms commonly combine to result in a significant problem for both employee and employer.

Exhaustion

Many of us know what it feels like to be exhausted. This is a key symptom of workplace burnout. Someone tha tis exhausted will reach the point where they are unable to function correctly.

At work, this will probably manifest itself in tiredness, lack of focus, poor concentration and a general lack of energy.

Negativity

Negativity can be incredibly dangerous for an employer. Someone that is in a negative mood will typically dislike work, feel very negative towards the employer and want to be anywhere but at work!

In terms of how this presents at work, a person will typically be cynical towards their role, feel hopeless in life and generally see only the negatives, rather than positives. This can have a domino-like effect and cause others to feel this way.

Ineffectiveness

A third key symptom of workplace burnout is ineffectiveness. This is when the employee will typically get less work done and lack efficiency. The quality of their work will deteriorate.

At work, this can result in them being self-critical, as they will often notice their own ineffectiveness.This creates a cycle where their work and self-esteem get progressively worse.

Is there an overlap in the symptoms of workplace burnout and Depression?

Quite worryingly, there is a strong overlap between the symptoms we see in workplace burnout and the mental health condition Depression.

It is important to mention that these are not the same things. However, there are some similarities. If workplace burnout is not adequately tackled, the employee may go on to develop Depression.

Depression will often include the symptoms outlined above, such as tiredness and negativity. But it also typically includes other symptoms like low self-esteem, lack of pleasure in fun activities, and sometimes suicidal ideation.

Depression is normally attributed to genetics, life circumstances or past traumas. However, workplace burnout is purely linked to the workplace.

Damaging coping mechanisms

As a way of coping with the stress of workplace burnout, employees may engage in risky behaviours, such as alcohol misuse. This can worsen their mental state.

Research shows that workplace burnout can also contribute to health conditions like insomnia, and increase the risk of obesity and a heart attack [1].

Conclusion

Knowing about the signs and symptoms of workplace burnout is a major step on the road to helping your employees to live in a healthy way where they have a strong work-life balance.

By doing so, the work force can be highly motivated, energetic and have high morale. Therefore, there are many benefits to knowing these symptoms.

Sources

[1]       Salvagioni, D. A. J., Melanda, F. N., Mesas, A. E., González, A.D., Gabani, F. L., & Andrade, S. M. (2017). Physical, psychological and occupational consequences of job burnout: A systematic review of prospective studies. PLoS One. 12 (10): e0185781. DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185781.

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