Burn out in the workplace is a major issue in for people who work both inside and outside healthcare. The healthcare sector is the largest employer in the United States. Burnout amoung healthcare workers, aside from that being of concern for them, leads to medical errors and increases costs. Further, this issues can disproportionately affect African Americans as they are over represented among healthcare workers.
Imagine sleeping all night, then waking up feeling dread or fatigue when you try to get out of bed. You’re a high performer, but the tasks or projects you used to complete with ease now feel difficult. You may sit at your computer and stare for hours. When you return from vacation, the exhaustion is right there as soon as you are back to work. If this is familiar, you may be experiencing burn out.
59% of American workers reported experiencing at least moderate levels of burnout in a recent AFLAC Survey [2023], which was 9 points higher than in 2021 and 2 points higher than
at the height of the pandemic in 2020.
Signs and symptoms of burnout
Burn out is an occupational phenomenon (not a medical condition) ‘resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed’, according to the World Health
Organization (1) .
There are 3 main characteristics of burnout (2) :
- emotional and physical exhaustion
- cynicism or detachment
- reduced personal accomplishment or feelings of inefficacy
This problem affects patients and doctors alike. Unfortunately, burnout amongst healthcare workers has been associated with increased costs of healthcare, medical errors and long-term adverse health outcomes for patients 3,4 .
Seeking professional Help for Burn Out in the Workplace
The main characteristics of burnout (emotional exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment, etc.) can overlap with signs or symptoms of other health conditions. So, it’s important not to assume that what you are experiencing is related to burn out alone.
Although burn out isn’t a mental health diagnosis, a behavioral health professional can help. In a Blue Cross Blue Shield report analyzing 3.1 Million claims over 4 years, Black and Hispanic respondents preferred healthcare providers with similar life experiences, so it’s helpful to find a doctor you feel comfortable with to evaluate you for other medical conditions that can mimic burnout such as: depression, vitamin deficiency, medication side effects, thyroid issues or anemia.
Once any medical issues have been ruled out or addressed, another option to address burn out in the workplace are personal coaches with expertise in lifestyles changes to help recover from burnout.
How is burn out different from depression?
The main difference between burnout and depression is that burnout centers around your work, versus depression which is a medical condition that usually affects all areas of your life.
Burnout can mimic signs of depression, and also can increase your risk of depression over time.
According to a 2023 national survey, the American Psychiatric Association reported that 29% of adults have been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives, and women are more
likely than men to experience depression and it can occur at any age (5) . Depression symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include:
- Feeling sad, irritable or hopeless
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you previously
enjoyed - Increased fatigue or loss of energy
- Appetite or weight changes
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Suicidal thoughts
- Difficulty concentrating, thinking or making decisions
Diagnosis and treatment of major depression is 31% lower for majority Black communities and 39% lower for majority Hispanic communities compared to White communities due to perceived
stigma, access to care, yet the rates of depression are projected to be the same.
If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
Causes of burn out in the workplace
People at high risk of burnout often love their work and go the extra mile, so many caregiving professions and teachers are at risk.
Although work overload is a commonly cited reason for job stress, it is only one of the 6 factors identified in a Forbes interview, with Christina Maslach, PhD, University of California Berkley emerita psychology professor and leading burnout researcher. Maslach identified 6 “mismatches” that make a person more likely to burn out:
- Lack of control
- Insufficient reward (monetary, recognition or feeling like you do a good job)
- Lack of Community
- Absence of Fairness (inequities in workload, pay, promotion, evaluation, etc.)
- Conflict in Values (personal values not in line with the organization)
- Work overload
The good news about burnout? With the above list, it’s easier see how yoga, meditation and taking time off don’t address theunderlying causes.
Understanding burnout in the workplace
Harvard Business Review stated that workplace stress takes an emotional and financial toll that adds up to $190 Billion in national healthcare spending and roughly 120,000 deaths each year.
Doctors and nurses have suicide rates 40% higher for men and 130% higher for women compared to the general public.
A 2023 American Psychology Association Survey shows that only about one-third (35%) reported that their employer encourages breaks. Only two-fifths (40%) reported that their employer respected time off, and only 29% reported that their managers encourage employees to take care of their mental health (so 33% were looking for a new job, affecting turnover and productivity).
Burn out in the workplace can lead to:
- Workplace accidents, errors and injuries
- Increased conflict
- Higher turnover and absenteeism
- Less empathy
- Inhibited innovation and creativity.
This affects everyone, so let’s explore ways to create a healthy work-life balance.
Creating a healthy work-life balance
Despite 1 in 5 people in APA’s 2023 work survey stating that their workplace was toxic, many employers center their efforts to address burnout around ‘fixing people’ vs ‘fixing the job’ or work
environment. Remote, 24/7 emails and other technology have blurred the lines of personal time and work-life balance for many workers. “Mayo Clinic Strategies to Reduce Burnout: 12 Actions to Create the Ideal Workplace,” a book authored by Stephen Swensen, M.D., and Tait Shanafelt, M.D., outlines ways employers can improve productivity and culture for their employees.
Here are a few ways your employer can Build a Supportive Work Environment:
- Acknowledge burnout as an organizational problem\
- Offer Employees ways to engage in work they find meaningful
- Allow more flexibility and control to employees
- Foster a fair and equitable culture
- Encourage trust and respect amongst leaders
- Offer mental health benefits and employee assistance programs
- Encourage time off
- Professional development and mentorship
- Recognize character along with other achievements
Strategies for Preventing Burnout
With stress management, some find it helpful to try deep breathing techniques, regular counseling and engaged in relaxing
hobbies. Unfortunately, many factors surrounding burnout are associated with employers providing a good culture and working conditions.
So what can you do to specifically prevent burnout? The tips below address the 6 mismatches listed above that increase the risk of burnout and help to improve work-life integration.
Here are 9 strategies for preventing burn out in the workplace:
- Transition out of toxic workplaces
- Align your values with a meaningful job and organization
- Identify job-related tasks that interest and energize you
- Learn new skills and clarify your job responsibilities
- Maintain healthy relationships with co-workers and leadership
- Say no to requests that are outside your main job priorities
- Unplug and decompress after work (walking, meet with friends)
- Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly (self-care)
- Maintain a sleep schedule (at least 7 hrs each night
Conclusion
With so many hours of our lives spent working, learning about what causes burnout and addressing your concerns with your doctor or coach can improve your overall health and well-being. Burn out in the work place affects all of public health whether or not we work in healthcare.
Sources:
1. https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases
2. Maslach, C., Jackson, S. E., & Leiter, M. P. (1996). Maslach Burnout Inventory manual (3rd ed.). Consulting Psychologists Press.
3. Moss M, Good VS, Gozal D, Kleinpell R, Sessler CN. An official Critical Care Societies Collaborative statement: burnout syndrome in critical care healthcare professionals: a
call for action. Crit Care Med. 2016;44(7):1414-1421.
4. Pastores SM, Kvetan V, Coopersmith CM, et al; Academic Leaders in Critical Care Medicine (ALCCM) Task Force of the Society of the Critical Care Medicine. Workforce, workload, and burnout among intensivists and advanced practice providers: a narrative review. Crit Care Med. 2019;47(4):550-557.
5. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients- families/depression/what-is-depression
