Are You Feeling Occupational Burnout? You Are Not Alone, Occupational Burnout Is A New Age International Crises 1980s to Beyond; Says A New Study

The World Health Organization WHO has defined occupational Burnout as a syndrome that results from chronic work-related stress. 

It further states that a classic symptom of Occupational Burnout is characterized by – feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and reduced professional efficacy”.

A new survey has highlighted that Burnout while having found its roots in workplaces today, the shoots and the branches of the same can be seen clearly in today’s workplaces and workforce. 

Thus Burnout is not just a term to be used casually, but it has become an actual reality such that, as per the new study, Burnout has become an international crisis that has struck companies, organizations and employees, managers or even those who own them. 

Burnout, simply put, is occupational stress. While earlier it could be related to job performance, in the present, it is manifesting itself as job insecurity and heightened fear as many companies and organizations are opting for mass employee exodus. 

It is needless to say; Burnout can impact one’s productivity, businesses, the ability to make timely and ideal decisions, especially when confronted with disasters, emergencies or even scandals. 

The study reveals that Burnout is not just plaguing a particular region or country but has become an international phenomenon. 

Burnout Is An International Crises

A poll conducted around the globe by an independent research firm in eleven countries and taking into account 20,000 employees in July and August revealed shocking results.

It found that nearly 50% of employees and 53% of managers stated they were burned out at work.

The survey was a comprehensive representation of several industries. The countries included in the research were Australia, New Zealand, China, India, Japan, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil and the United States.

Ireland Maxes Out In Europe

Gallup and HR tech company Workhuman research found that almost 3 in ten Irish employees said that they felt burnt out “always” or “very often”.

The survey of 12,000 employees in 11 European countries revealed that employees in Ireland suffer burnout and stress more often than in other European countries. They were also less likely to be “thriving,”.

Asian Women and Frontline Workers Suffer the most Burnout.

Meanwhile, McKinsey & Company’s study found that almost one in three employees in Asia were experiencing symptoms of Burnout.

The study showed that it was the female employees and frontline workers who reported higher levels of burnout with underlying symptoms of depression and distress as compared to their global counterparts. 

They also showed higher levels of symptoms of both depression and stress as compared to their male colleagues, which is also found to be a common phenomenon worldwide.

This is particularly easy to understand as women in any industry and all over the world have found that working in the corporate sector does come with its perils of “being a woman” and something that cannot be denied.

Women have to work harder and show more and better results as they enter the realm of competing with their male counterparts. Many working women also work equally hard to keep a home and a family. However, burnout is bound to happen as responsibilities at home and work increase. 

The Asian region survey showed that more than a quarter of employees reported symptoms of depression and anxiety. Hence, it was clear that a real and pressing workplace challenge faced the region, according to McKinsey’s report about the survey.

The research was conducted from February to April 2022 by the McKinsey Health Institute. Respondents included 15,000 employees and 1,000 human resource decision-makers in 15 countries. India, Japan, Australia, and China.

The United States Small Business Owners 

Since burnout seems to be an international phenomenon, another study went into the details to find to what extent a significant segment of the corporate community in the U.S., i.e. small business owners, are suffering from Burnout. 

Capital One and the Capital One Insights Center did the survey and found that 48% of small business owners stated they had suffered Burnout in the past month. 

The Capital One survey was conducted in 2022 among a selection of 1,295 small business owners, including 115 small business owners who started their business at least two years ago before the Covid pandemic. Small businesses in the U.S. are defined as those with annual revenues of less than $20 million.

Business owners – such as caregivers- are 53% more likely to have experienced Burnout in the past month than other small business owners. 

Similarly, 53% of female business owners are more likely to say they have experienced Burnout in the past month than their male counterparts, who stood at 41%.

The Burnout Trend has a steady graph.

Capital One first studied business owners about Burnout and work-life balance in November 2021. 

While few questions were asked in subsequent surveys fielded in March 2022 and August/September 2022, the results have mostly remained the same since Capital One has been studying the Burnout phenomenon. 

How to identify if you are experiencing Burnout?

While it is common for any business holder or anyone working in the corporate sector or otherwise to experience small amounts of work-related stress from time to time, one can say that one is Burntout if one experience the following symptoms – 

– Negative thoughts related to regular work activity, such as checking emails or doing reports. 

– Avoidance doing work, meetings or other usual day-to-day activities at the workplace.

– Thoughts like “I wish I could stay in bed all day”.

– Emotional or Angry outbursts at the workplace or home with your loved one

– Problem sleeping

– Feelings of resentment

– Some may also suffer from digestive issues. 

History Of Burnout

Burnout is not a new age problem but was first observed in the 1970s, reported by the Washington Post; the word became the key term to describe the condition of ” frazzled, defeated American workers”.

In 1981, the president of the air traffic controllers union stated that one of the reasons the union members were going on strike was for higher wages and a shorter workweek,” according to the Washington Post.

Conclusion: As technology, corporatization, and work advanced through the 1980s to the present and even as we move forward, Burnout is a phenomenon that companies and the workforce will encounter. 

Even as challenges, issues and work-related pressures that employees and employers face in the present and the same that they may face tomorrow translate to the fact that Burnout is an urban phenomenon.

Thus, the international burnout crisis will not cease anytime soon.