January 22, 2024

Ask any business owner, and they will tell you the corporation’s most significant investment is in its workforce. Employees must be trained, educated, and, most importantly, protected. Unfortunately, professional burnout occurs much too often. Burnout can create emotional distress, anxiety, and depression. For employers, it can cause a lack of group cohesion, high staff turnover, and loss of revenue.

I have treated many clients over the years suffering from professional burnout. Each person was unique, but the reasons behind their struggle were similar. This article will discuss a few significant factors I have witnessed that lead to burnout in a professional setting.

If you are an employee suffering from burnout or an employer who wishes to help the staff through this rough patch, please check out our upcoming posts focused on Signs and Symptoms of Burnout, Managing Toxic Personalities at the Workplace, and Overcoming Burnout 101. When it comes to burnout, there is always a silver lining.

UNCLEAR AND FLUCTUATING WORK EXPECTATIONS

Employees may say: “I don’t know what I am supposed to do or when the work needs to be completed. I am unsure if I can access the information for task completion. How will my superiors review me? I don’t even know who my superiors are. Etc.”

WORK OVERLOAD LEADING TO CHRONIC EXHAUSTION

Employees may say: “Everyone wants something. It isn’t easy to prioritize. Work is coming at me all at once. I often have to work from home and on weekends. I call in on sick days and answer the phone on vacations. It is never over. If I complain, I may not have a job. I feel helpless.”

TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT

  1. Lack of Group Cohesion. Employees may say: “The people I work with do not get along. They all compete against one another. They all inform one another. They dislike one another. There needs to be more agreement on anything.
  2. Unreasonable quotas
  3. Punishment of employees
  4. Abusive or toxic personalities
  5. Employer inviting or rewarding toxic behaviors.
  6. Poor supervision and guidance

LACK OF TRANSPARENCY

Employees may say: “It is unclear why some staff are permitted to work from home while others are asked to come into the office. I don’t even understand what the actual project is. What is our mission? Etc.”

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Examples: Lack of light. Toxic odor at the office. The office is too cold. The location is too hot. The place feels unsafe. Etc.

LOSS OF MEANING

Employees may say: “Am I making a difference? Is this meaningful?”

LIFE STAGE ISSUES

Employees may say: “Am I far enough ahead in this career at this age? I always imagined to be further along in this field.”

IDENTITY ISSUES

Employees may say: “Am I doing what I was born to do? I feel something is missing. I only have a limited time to pursue something I always wanted.” 

NOT SEEING THE REWARD (not necessarily financial)

Employees may say: “The work I put in does not match the rewards I receive.”

PERCEPTION OF LIFE GETTING IN THE WAY OF LIVING

Employee may say: “What I am doing now is keeping me from real life, which is happening elsewhere. I love my job, but my life feels distant.”

By Eugene Roginsky LCSW

Silver Lining Behavioral Health has skilled therapists who can assist individuals in overcoming burnout and finding new meaning in a chosen career. Help is only a phone call away.