Nearly 50% of HR leaders say employee burnout is responsible for up to half of their annual workforce turnover.
But, what happens when HR pros themselves experience burnout?
If you or someone on your HR team is on the verge of burnout, you’re not alone. In fact, nearly 2/3 of full-time workers, including those in HR, deal with burnout at some point while at work. That’s especially important to remember as HR professionals deal with COVID-19, racial unrest, a rapidly evolving work environment and the most dire economic circumstances we’ve seen in several generations.
Stressed yet?
But you like your job, you say? You always perform at the top of your game, you say? You won’t experience burnout, you say?
Think again. The fact is, one in five employees report both high engagement and high burnout.
Burnout Defined
A long overdue decision by the World Health Organization in 2019 categorized burnout as a syndrome that results from “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” It is characterized by:
Risk Factors for HR Pros
In good times and bad, HR is on the front lines, which presents a unique set of burnout risk factors.
Stressors like these can cause burnout in HR professionals, impacting their entire organization. Before HR can take care of the employees they serve, they must first take care of themselves. HR teams can help themselves and each other by keeping an eye out for signs and symptoms of burnout.
Warning Signs
Be mindful of any recent developments regarding workload, deadlines, work location and other influential factors. If you notice any of the changes below in yourself or others, it may be time to address possible burnout.
Tips to Alleviate Burnout
Whether you’re experiencing burnout yourself or notice it in others, there are steps one can take to reduce its effects or eliminate it altogether. Here are a few that speak directly to HR professionals.
To learn more about the telltale signs of burnout and how to alleviate its effects, check out HR Burnout: 5 Tips for Managing Stress.