As a holistic nutritionist, I see the impact of employee burnout every day in my work with clients. Fatigue, gut health issues, brain fog, anxiety, sleeplessness…it all stems from stress and burnout. As a Human Resources leader, I understand the costs of employee burnout to employers in absenteeism, stress leave, and reduced performance.
Burnout is a state of chronic stress that can lead to physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion, reducing productivity and increasing absenteeism. The long-term effects of burnout can have a significant impact on employees and their families, as well as on the bottom line of the company.
In today’s fast-paced and demanding work environment, employee burnout has become a growing concern. In fact, witnessing and addressing the roots of burnout in my high-performing colleagues was what led me to becoming a holistic nutritionist.
Burnout is a Dirty Secret
As a HR Leader advising the C-Suite on all workforce issues from wellness, to hiring and firing, I found a niche identifying high performers and coaching them to the next level. That was my zone of genius.
But I watched as many around me suffered the health impacts of stress – lack of focus, poor sleep, inflammation, gut problems, muscle aches…you know the signs. You’ve probably felt them at times yourself.
I identified a dangerous link between high performance and burnout. But I also saw that it didn’t have to be that way. Simple shifts in everyday routines, a focus on wellness, and taking time to fuel your body and mind – with the right focus, stress can be reduced, and burnout avoided.
Sounds easy? Not so much in the end. Because it is the very performance mindset driving high achievers to achieve that also fueled the burnout.
Finding the balance to keep the high-performance drive while caring for our bodies and minds became my mission.
And as HR Leaders and executives, preventing employee burnout should be your mission, too.
The High Cost of Employee Burnout
Employee burnout doesn’t just sideline your high-performers, it affects your bottom line. You are seeing the high costs of employee burnout in your business every day.
Employee burnout shows up as:
- Increased Absenteeism – when employees are experiencing burnout, they are more likely to take time off work, either because they are physically or mentally unable to work or because they need time to recharge. This can result in decreased productivity, missed deadlines, and a higher workload for other employees…prolonging the cycle of burnout.
- Decreased Productivity – even when they are at work, employees experiencing burnout exhibit decreased motivation, lack of focus, and decreased job satisfaction, resulting in a reduction in productivity and overall performance. When employees are not performing at their best, it impacts the success of the company.
- Higher Employee Turnover: Burnout can lead to increased job dissatisfaction and turnover, meaning increased costs for recruiting, hiring, and training new employees.
- Higher Benefits Costs: Burnout can have a significant impact on an employee’s physical and mental health, leading to increased health-related absences and potentially long-term disability. This can result in higher insurance premiums costs.
- Decreased Employee Morale: Burnout can also have a negative impact on employee morale and engagement, leading to decreased motivation and increased job dissatisfaction. This can result in a toxic work environment and decreased collaboration among employees.
You Have Burnout Problems. Effective Employee Wellness Programs are the Cure
Eating better, sleeping better, meditation. We put wellness programs in place to show we care, but they don’t really support the business. Employee wellness programs are just fluff, right?
Wrong.
Effective workplace wellness programs tackle the root cause of burnout and help your employees – and your company – thrive.
The key is to make it memorable, and make it stick.
