employee burnout is harmful for your business

employee burnout primarily affects those who are directly responsible for managing employee productivity. in a nutshell, it is a workplace problem that is very common and can greatly reduce employee and company productivity. it occurs when the positive efforts of a productive team member(s) are quickly replaced by the negative actions of a distracted individual or group. this reduction in productivity occurs because the productive team member(s) no longer feels inspired to do his/her job; thus, it impedes the company's productivity growth. however, in the hands of a good manager, this employee burnout problem can be handled in a constructive way.

a common effect of employee burnout is that a single negative event (such as the departure of a popular boss) seriously decreases the amount of inspired creativity among the remaining employees. as a result, employees are not working as efficiently anymore and are failing to give their best at work. no one wins here. aside from the human suffering it causes, workplace burnout indirectly affects the overall output of an organization.

beyond the human suffering it causes, employee burnout also reduces company profitability. not only does a demoralized team lose its members' incentive to work, but also the company loses money due to reduced employee productivity and output, lessening the amount of its profit. a study conducted by ibm business school found, "a five percent decrease in total firm operating profit due to employee burnout was associated with a five percent decrease in net profit margin."

however, in order to avoid employee burnout and other workplace problems, managers must take a proactive approach. first, recognize the problem early on. don't wait until an employee is ready to tell you he or she is having a problem. by the time an employee is ready, you have already lost a valuable resource in your workforce. second, make sure you offer your employees' counseling and assistance on how to deal with problems brought about by being burned out.

workplace burnout is caused by the depletion of emotional and physical resources. it can also be caused by a decreased professional efficacy or sense of energy and/or vitality. when these resources are depleted, people's bodies naturally begin to run down. an employee's body will also begin to show signs of reduced mental distance from one s previous job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one or current job. all these reactions are signs of the body's need for rest, or a lowered resistance to fatigue.

all of these conditions can lead to reduced mental health and increased fatigue. the deterioration of a person's mental health can lead to higher stress levels and consequently, employee burnout. to understand this further, consider physical symptoms such as increased muscle tension, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure. these physical symptoms are typically associated with high levels of stress.

therefore, the reduction in physical and mental health related to workplace stress can lead to an increased likelihood of employees experiencing workplace burnout. workplace stress has also been found to relate to absenteeism, sick days, tardiness, increased sales costs, and loss of clientele. to ensure that you protect your employees from the harmful effects of workplace stress, implement a comprehensive stress management program that addresses the unique needs of your staff.

in sum, workplace stress can have a significant impact on your employee's mental health and performance. if your staff is experiencing high levels of stress, it is imperative that you implement a comprehensive health and wellness program that address work performance and mental health. implementing a program that addresses work performance, burnout, and stress levels will help to reduce the negative impact of burnout on your staff. this effort combined with the proper management and training will not only improve your company's performance and reduce the negative impact of stress on your business, but will also lead to improved mental health and decreased absenteeism.

article by: mirko francioni