Burnout in the workplace is a common problem. Employees who are engaged, focused, and enthusiastic are essential not only for your business, but for the overall health and wellbeing of your work teams. According to studies, companies whose employees feel supported and happy in a work environment are more profitable, far less likely to have accidents, and more likely to experience steady revenue growth. Check out some of these simple ways to help your employees avoid burnout.
Tips for Preventing Workplace Burnout
Burnout is particularly common among your most dedicated employees, those who are deeply committed to their jobs, and your enterprise. They may work on their own time, constantly obsess about work issues on their off-hours, and find it difficult to take any time off. While these players may be some of the most valuable members of your team, they are also prone to suffering workplace burnout.
Here are the top 5 tips that can help:
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1. Provide support for your managers: Managers play a major role in the success of a business. They represent the owners, the company values, and the company culture, and are responsible for career enhancement of the employees they manage. Providing authentic support for key management can help prevent burnout and allow management to deliver a higher level of support to valued employees. Managers who are offered seminars, workshops, individual training sessions, and other support are less likely to suffer burnout, and can provide more help to their team members, as well as enhance company culture.
2. Adequate breaks and recovery time: Breaks are necessary for all who work in your business. No one benefits from an employee who is working past all reasonable limits to complete tasks. Managers must set realistic expectations, be willing to adjust workloads, and be aware of employees who have reached maximum capacity for production. Rather than giving these valuable employees more, ensure they are taking breaks, and are not pressured after hours or on weekends.
3. Allow flexible work arrangements: When employees have more control over their lives, it can reduce stress. Offering your employees flexibility, such as hybrid work schedules, can lower the cost of office space, equipment, and utilities. Meanwhile, your employees can spend some days working comfortably from home, while reducing the costs, both in money and time, of commuting.
4. Set clear expectations: When employees are unsure of what is expected of them, it can create ongoing stress and anxiety. Instead of ambiguous expectations or targets that no one could hope to achieve, make sure all tasks are explicitly communicated, and that all targets are achievable in the real world.
5. Regularly provide feedback: Without regular feedback, your employees will never be sure if their work is valued, or if it needs improvement. This level of stress can contribute to workplace burnout. Schedule regular progress meetings, so your employees and managers know where they stand, what areas need improvement, and what actions are planned to help achieve that improvement, such as training, workshops, seminars, or working one on one with a mentor.
Consider providing and encouraging the use of employee assistance programs and mental health benefits, so your employees have the tools they need when the going gets rough, or when they need specific help, whether in the workplace, or personally – the two cannot really be separated.
When the risk of employees facing workplace burnout is recognized, with employees feeling focused, and supported, it can have a very positive impact on the overall work experience. Since burnout can lead to higher numbers of illnesses, accidents, and safety risks, keeping your employees happy and productive can, in the end, lead to lower insurance rates. For more information, speak with one of our local insurance agents about a custom employee benefit plan.
