The concept of employee burnout is a struggle that employers of all industries have to prepare for. However, the tech industry thrives on rapid development and turnaround, often requiring employees to be pushed to their limits and burnout is prevalent. To know the best way to approach and avoid employee burnout, it is important to understand the severity of it and how it affects your employees.
Employee burnout is more than just being tired throughout the week or getting handed an excessive workload. It is built up through stress over time that will lead to physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion which in turn affects your employees' motivation, productivity, and engagement.
In the tech industry, where stress is commonly brought on by short deadlines and the drive for innovation, burnout is more common than not. It is not unusual that the line between work and personal life is blurry and with more remote work options, that problem is only becoming worse. A study done by Yerbo found that 56% of men and 69% of women can’t relax once their workday is over and 51% feel they are achieving less than they should.
Recognizing burnout in your workplace is crucial, here are three major signs of burnout:
- Chronic Fatigue
Are you constantly tired and struggling to muster up any energy? Typically, after a tough day, people can recover with rest and downtime, also known as “recharge”. However, when an employee is dealing with chronic fatigue it’s as if no matter how much time they spend resting, they never seem to be fully “recharged”.
- Extreme Doubt
Are you noticing that negative thoughts about your work are outweighing any positive ones? It might feel like your work is not appreciated and you can never seem to do your job correctly. Cynicism can be a big sign of burnout and if you find yourself or someone on your team consistently sees work in a negative light, it’s important to consider a larger issue at hand. These kinds of thoughts can affect your performance and the well-being of your team.
- Negative Self-Evaluation
In the tech industry, where high performance is normal, it can become very disheartening if you feel like you are not measuring up. Nobody likes to feel like their efforts are fruitless and if you find that you are working yourself to the bone without receiving any achievements, you can become burnt out very quickly.
The fight against burnout is a joint effort between the employees and companies. Take a look at these 3 strategies your company can implement to combat this rising issue:
- Promote Wellness & Work-Life Harmony
The focus should shift from achieving a work-life balance to fostering a working culture that respects personal time and well-being. Encouraging employees to take regular breaks, disconnect after work hours, and establish clear policies around communication expectations can go a long way in preventing burnout. Many companies offer rewards for taking actions that contribute to overall wellness.
- Empower Employees with Flexibility
Acknowledging that each employee has different needs throughout the day and creating a flexible work environment is important. This can include options like flexible work hours, remote work, or compressed workweeks, providing these options can contribute to a decline in stress levels.
- Revisit Workload & Priorities
Regularly reassess the distribution of workloads and priorities within tech companies. Ensure tasks are distributed fairly and realistically, and set clear, manageable expectations for deliverables and deadlines.
Summary
Strategies will look different in every workplace but these could be a good place to start. Addressing burnout in the tech industry is a complex challenge but it can be overcome with a proactive and comprehensive approach. Begin by identifying the signs of burnout, promoting sustainable work habits, and fostering a supportive environment.