Employee burnout results in high absenteeism, lower productivity and less employee engagement in the workplace. Ultimately, employee burnout leads to unhappy employees, turnover and high costs. The key is to try to identify the signs of employee burnout early. This allows management an opportunity to fix the issue before it becomes a serious problem.
Here are a few tips all people managers should employ to stay on top of employee burnout.
Set the Example
Employees will behave in a manner they see demonstrated by their leaders. Therefore, managers should act in a manner that sends a clear message to employees. This includes things you wouldn’t necessarily consider. For example, taking your allotted vacation days to demonstrate the importance of balancing work with personal life.
Also, show your appreciation whenever you have the chance too. Basic manners like saying thank you and recognizing a job well done will go a long way to improve employee morale.
Teach Time Management
Wasted time is one of the biggest issues for employees facing burnout. When facing deadlines, or a heavy work load, employees should have tools to manage timelines effectively. The advantages of better time management are plenty: less stress, more free time and ultimately more opportunities. As a manager, take the time to mentor and coach your employees on time management by using techniques suited to their work style.
Actively Promote Health & Wellness
An important tool to decreasing employee burnout is health and wellness promotion. For starters, every organization should have an active health and wellness program. Programs such as gym memberships, flex or “mental health” days and nutritional support to help people feel their best are ideas to consider. Get input from your team before implementing a new program.
Most importantly, ensure that staff feel able to take breaks when needed, and that they are not pressured to work 10+ hours a day. Employees who feel overworked are stressed out, and prolonged stress will eventually lead to burnout.
Support Your Team
The one thing employees desire at work more than free snacks, ping pong tables and yoga classes is a supportive supervisor. When staff know their manager “has their back”, they can better manage heavy workloads, deadlines and workplace stress. As a manager you should equip your team with resources. The type of resources they need to make them feel as though they have everything they require to be successful in the workplace.
A new survey from the American Psychological Association confirms supervisor support as the biggest influence on employee experience at work. According to the survey, “Employees who reported feeling supported by their supervisors were more than twice as likely to also report being satisfied with their jobs, valued by their employer, and willing to recommend their company as a good place to work.”
Overall, treating employees fairly and providing a variety of tools to keep them engaged and happy will decrease employee burnout. It’s important to emphasize the small things that can help manage workplace stress. And to also be proactive in managing employee relationships to ensure that the employees you’re hiring are driven, hardworking, and there to stay.
