Top strategies for employee burnout prevention
Insights.
In our fast-paced lives, where technology makes us more connected than ever, employee burnout is a growing concern. But burnout is more than feeling stressed about an approaching deadline, it's a condition characterised by chronic stress, exhaustion, and reduced productivity.
91% of UK adults experienced high or extreme levels of pressure or stress in the last year, leading to one in five workers (20%) needing to take time off work in that period. These findings come from Mental Health UK's Burnout Report 2024, based on a YouGov poll of 2,060 adults, which found the UK is quickly becoming a "burnt-out" nation.
While the majority of UK adults feel confident in managing stress and pressure levels in their lives, this report found nearly a quarter (24%) of workers are unable to do so. The consequences of burnout are significant for both employees and employers alike, leading to absenteeism, reduced productivity, and a rise in employee turnover.
If you're looking to reduce employee burnout within your team or organisation, this blog covers everything you need to know about:
- The warning signs for leaders to recognise
- Top strategies for burnout prevention
- Expert advice on dealing with stress in the workplace
What is employee burnout?
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes employee burnout as a workplace phenomenon "resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed."
As a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion, burnout can manifest in a myriad of ways. Employees may experience:
- Decreased motivation and productivity
- Increased absenteeism
- Lower productivity
- A lack of engagement in their work
What causes employee burnout?
Given the complex, multifaceted nature of employee burnout, there are various causes.
As Alex Hattingh, Chief People Officer explains, "People don't know when to switch off, especially with technology like Slack or Teams. While it's game-changing technology, you're always on and burnout is a huge trend that I'm seeing and am concerned about."
So, what causes employees to burnout?
- Growing workloads: Increased pressure in the form of competing deadlines, mounting responsibilities or work overload can greatly contribute to employee burnout.
- Lack of support: Employees who feel unsupported by their team or manager are more likely to experience burnout and a strain on their wellbeing and mental health.
- Poor work-life balance: Whether it's poor time management, an unsustainable workload, or an inability to switch off after work hours, this imbalance can decrease job satisfaction and motivation as well as increase stress levels.
- External stress: Preventing employee burnout doesn't just mean paying attention in the workplace; it also means acutely understanding how external stressors like unplanned life events, relationship troubles, and financial struggles can contribute to burnout.
- Unfair treatment: Employees who feel they are being unfairly treated in the workplace are more likely to disengage with their work. Disagreement and mistreatment from coworkers, bosses, and team members should be taken seriously and immediately addressed.
As Dr Ananta Dave, the Royal College of Psychiatrists' lead for wellbeing and retention, explains: "People who are concerned about burnout should be able to seek help at work from their staff health and wellbeing service, line manager or occupational health team."
Dave adds, "Employers have a statutory duty of care to their employees and need to do all they can to promote good mental health in the workplace and support those employees who become unwell."
How to spot the signs of employee burnout
The sooner you identify the early signs of employee burnout, the sooner you can put measures in place to better support your team. While prevention is always better than cure, some of the red flags that indicate a worker might not be coping include:
- Decreased productivity: If a high-performing employee begins to miss due dates or fails to deliver work on time, this could be a sign that they're struggling to cope at work.
- Physical and emotional exhaustion: Lack of rest can lead to physical and emotional exhaustion and ultimately, employee burnout. 2022 research from British Airways Holidays and YouGov found that many employees show a reluctance to take time off, with 36% reporting having not used their full annual leave allowance. For those who did, 48% said they felt the need to check emails while on holiday, and 46% reported working whilst on leave.
- Negative feelings: If an employee who is typically optimistic, motivated, and upbeat begins expressing negative feelings about their position or work, they may require extra support.
- Physical symptoms: Along with the mental and emotional symptoms of burnout, it's also not uncommon for employees suffering from chronic stress and exhaustion to present with physical symptoms. This may include persistent headaches or migraines, back pain, anxiety and panic attacks, digestive issues, and chronic fatigue.
The cost of employee burnout for businesses
Burnout doesn't just affect employees. It can also have significant consequences for your business and your wider workplace culture.
Burnout employees are more likely to take additional time off and less likely to bring their best self to work, leading to presenteeism and a drop in productivity and output. If left unaddressed, burnout can eventually lead to a spike in employee turnover, which comes at a big cost to employers.
"Employee disengagement and attrition cost a median-size S&P 500 company between $228-355 million a year in lost productivity."
It's estimated that absences and low productivity due to presenteeism across the workforce in 2023 saw British businesses lose an average of 49.7 days per employee due to poor health. According to research conducted by Vitality, workplace sickness costs the UK £138 billion, and places greater pressure on other employees as their workloads increase and the risk of employee burnout in the workplace broadens.
High turnover is another impact of employee burnout and can be expected when employees feel unsupported, undervalued, or struggle to maintain a work-life balance. There are significant financial and resource costs associated with replacing staff, not to mention the loss of knowledge from experienced employees.
5 strategies for preventing employee burnout in the workplace
Ready to tackle the root causes of employee burnout and set your people up for success? Here are the top strategies to help prevent employee burnout and foster a positive work environment.
1. Promote work-life balance
Fostering greater work-life balance in the workplace is key to preventing employee burnout. Employees should be encouraged to take time off when necessary, and flexible schedules can also help.
And, at a time when technology sees us constantly plugged in, it's important to communicate that employees aren't expected to respond after-hours or outside of work.
"Communicating expectations around responsiveness can help, so people know it's okay not to respond to that Slack message or email. There's no pressure to respond out of hours. It's a very simple thing to do, but often we forget the need to set that expectation clearly with others."
Raechel Gavin, Chief People Officer at Sonder
2. Encourage open communication
Open communication is key to ensuring your employees feel supported within the workplace. Particularly in an age where remote work is a reality for many, it's never been more important to build a culture of connection through intentional check-ins with direct reports. Here's how you can foster open communication with your team:
- Be vulnerable: Discussing mental health struggles can be uncomfortable for many employees. By being open about your own struggles as a leader, you'll open the door for employees to do the same. Research has also shown that authentic leadership cultivates trust and improves employee engagement, while making you appear more human and relatable.
- Be clear to be kind: As Raechel Gavin explains, "In times of uncertainty, role clarity becomes even more critical. Be clear in explaining what is expected, what needs to be done, and what success looks like. If we don't create clarity, the risk is that people second guess themselves. They feel stretched and they can feel directionless. All of these things can start to lead to burnout, anxiety, overwhelm and stress. Once you create this clarity it's key to stay connected with regular dialogue and feedback."
- Take a customised approach: It's important to never make assumptions about what your direct reports need. Instead, focus on each individual and listen carefully to their challenges.
- Make your team aware of mental health resources and encourage them to use them: Sonder's Resource Hub also serves as a powerful aid for managers. Using in-app functionality, managers can easily curate content that is relevant to their teams and share these resources around the business.
3. Create a supportive work environment
Part of creating a supportive work environment involves cultivating empathetic leadership.
As Raechel suggests, "The leadership of yesterday is not enough to help us navigate the complexities of work and life today. We need to constantly refresh and add to our tool kit. One example is, incorporating high empathy into your leadership. Understanding and working with the whole person, demonstrating authentic, genuine care."
4. Implement stress-reducing initiatives
By implementing stress-reducing initiatives in the workplace, you can ensure employees have the necessary tools to overcome challenges that could be symptomatic of chronic stress or burnout. Examples include:
- Guided meditations and sleepscape sounds to help employees prioritise rest and their mental wellbeing.
- Interactive quizzes that allow employees to assess if their mood, anxiety, or stress levels are cause for concern; supported with mental health articles and resources to take targeted action.
- Curated courses that coach managers on how to better manage their time with hacks and tips for boosting productivity and managing stress levels.
- Free budgeting resources and access to handy apps to help employees get smarter with their money and reduce financial stress.
Whether in the form of workshops, seminars, or online resources focused on mindfulness, relaxation techniques, time management, and overall wellbeing, these resources should be accessible to all employees.
5. Offer preventative resources and support
Despite the widespread nature of burnout, most organisations fail to tackle the issue from a preventative standpoint.
As Dave suggests, "We are seeing more staff members presenting with burnout across the National Health Service (NHS) who have struggled with stressful working conditions and increases in demand for services. It's important to remember that anyone can be affected by these issues."
The wellbeing of employees within the workplace should be a priority of any organisation, with tools and resources made available to support their health and safety at both a physical and mental level. With Sonder, employers can tackle burnout before it reaches crisis point with the following tools:
- Resource hub: with its 'choose your own adventure' approach, employees are able to hone in on resources that are relevant to them, making the hub act as a personalised, on-demand wellbeing coach that's available 24/7.
- In-app functionality: With employees able to share and like content, managers are able to easily curate content relevant to their teams and share these resources around the business in seconds.
- Immediate care services: given that burnout and mental health challenges can arise at any moment, health professionals and first-person responders are available 24/7 for confidential and practical support.
- Face-to-face support: for those who require urgent in-person care, face-to-face support is available.
Sonder case study
Situation
A retail worker in his mid thirties had recently transferred to a new store. The member reached out to Sonder as he was experiencing significant workplace stress, manifesting as:
- Burnout and stress from being overworked
- Feeling pressured by his new manager
- Severe weight loss
- Feelings of unworthiness, uselessness, and increased self-critical thoughts
Response
During the initial support case, active listening and support were provided via a Sonder Care Specialist, along with a recommendation to visit a GP for weight loss. Self-help resources were offered, and a counselling session was scheduled for the following day. The session revealed the member's acute condition, including paranoia and hallucinations.
The counsellor made an urgent referral to the local mental health team. They conducted an on-site assessment, determining that psychiatric inpatient care was necessary within two days.
Outcome
The member received immediate and appropriate psychiatric care, ensuring his safety and wellbeing, and ongoing follow-up provided sustained support. Throughout the process, valuable insights were gathered, helping arrange future-oriented steps and enabling rational decision-making.
In potentially preventing a full psychotic episode. This case underscores the importance and effectiveness of Sonder's integrated stepped-care model.
Ready to foster engaged, resilient teams?
Experience a modern approach to employee care that focuses on prevention and early intervention. Get in touch with Sonder today to discover how our platform can benefit your organisation.
About Sonder
Sonder is a technology company that helps organisations improve the wellbeing of their people so they perform at their best. Our mobile app provides immediate, 24/7 support from a team of safety, medical, and mental health professionals - plus onsite help for time-sensitive scenarios. Sonder clinicians hold certifications across the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. This puts us alongside leading hospitals and healthcare institutions around the world.
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