Do you know the Burnout Syndrome?

Discover how it affects employees and learn to avoid it

The percentage of employees suffering from Burnout is constantly increasing.  Burnout is a work-related illness that causes a progressive loss of energy and motivation due to physical, emotional and attitudinal exhaustion that results from an over-exertion of the worker's physical and mental energy.

This disease begins very subtly and is alarmingly common, with attitudes like not wanting to get up in the morning despite having a good night's sleep.

Currently, the symptoms are divided into 4 levels:

1. Mild
Fatigue, little interest, back or headaches, there is a slight drop in productivity.

2. Moderate
Insomnia, loss of concentration, a tendency to self-medication.

3. High
Increasing and constant absences from work, medication abuse.
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​4. Extreme
Isolation, crisis, depression,  suicidal tendencies.

There are 2 types of factors that influence the development of this syndrome.

1. The personal
They are due to high self-demand, perfectionism, need for control, few interests,  activities outside of work.

2. The labor
They are related to a large number of work hours, feel that employment is at risk, the organization’s work environment, unfair salary, and so on.

How can we prevent Burnout syndrome?

Individually
We can look for the development of cognitive - behavioral strategies (strategies where we look for actions that improve our mental stability) that allow avoiding the experience of stress to adapt to the circumstances.

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Organizationally
We must encourage self-assessment, relaxation strategies,  good communication, for example implementing programs that motivate and reward activities that seek to promote health.  In the company, we have a Wellness program in which the company supports its employees monetarily to encourage them to look for an activity that helps reduce their stress and serves as a relaxation strategy.

How can we combat Burnout syndrome?

Individually
We can seek support or provide support and tranquility to the person we observe who suffers from this disease.

As an organization
We must investigate what it is that makes employees develop this and seek to solve it, either by talking to employees who have the symptoms of this syndrome and checking if their contract or current activities are fair.

As an organization, what can we do for our collaborators?

We have to develop strategies with incentives, not necessarily economic, the collaborators recognize a company that cares about their well-being when receiving:

• A fair salary and treatment
• Assign realistic goals
• Encourage special events to relax, such as fast soccer matches or integration events, a good inn in December, a hat with your name.

​Small details can make a difference in the work environment and this translates into happy and more productive collaborators.

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Melissa Flores
​IT Recruiter Intern