The Pain of Burnout Continues to Rise Globally

According to a recent survey conducted by Future Forum, a research consortium backed by Salesforce Inc.’s Slack Technologies, more than 40 per cent of people with desk jobs feel burned out at work. This is a pandemic-era high, and the pain of burnout is particularly acute outside the United States.

Regional Pressures Contribute to Workplace Malaise

Economic uncertainty, fear of job cuts, and rising pressure to return to in-office work have added to workplace malaise. Future Forum researchers noted that women and younger workers are disproportionately affected by burnout. Regional pressures also play a significant role in contributing to the problem.

In the United Kingdom, strikes have crippled the country as public-sector unions protest what they see as paltry pay increases. Japan’s government has asked firms there to help workers cope with the highest inflation since 1981. French citizens have taken to the streets to protest the government’s plan to raise the retirement age to 64 from 62.

U.S. Workers Experience Some Improvement

In contrast, American workers seem to feel slightly happier than their international counterparts. Only 41 per cent of people surveyed in the U.S. said they felt burned out at the end of last year, just shy of the 42 per cent global rate and a modest improvement from earlier in 2022.

The Benefits of Flexibility

The Future Forum survey has consistently shown that pandemic-era workers with more freedom to choose where and when they work are usually more satisfied, productive, and less likely to quit. In the latest poll, conducted late last year, more than half of those who said they were dissatisfied with their level of flexibility also said they were burned out.

Employees with immovable work schedules are more than twice as likely to say they’ll "definitely" look for a new job over the next year. Brian Elliott, a Slack executive who oversees the Future Forum research, noted that "all the benefits of flexibility are about how you give people focused time, rather than sweating how many days of week they are in."

The Impact of Technology on Workers

Companies have thrown so much technology at employees that they may be getting overwhelmed. Large employers now use an average of 211 different apps, up from 195 last year, according to a separate survey from Okta Inc., a cloud software company that tracks app usage.

A recent study highlighted in Harvard Business Review found that workers toggled between different apps and websites 1,200 times each day, leading to a "toggling tax" that can cost workers time, productivity, and peace of mind.

What Can Companies Do to Address Burnout?

In light of these findings, companies must take steps to address burnout among their employees. This includes providing flexible work arrangements, reducing the number of apps and tools used by employees, and fostering a culture of focused work.

By taking these steps, companies can help reduce burnout and improve productivity among their workers. As Brian Elliott noted, "flexibility also improves a company’s culture, and every time I tell executives this, it surprises them."

Conclusion

Worker burnout is even worse than at the peak of the pandemic, with more than 40 per cent of people with desk jobs feeling burned out at work. Regional pressures contribute to workplace malaise, while U.S. workers experience some improvement.

Companies must take steps to address burnout among their employees, including providing flexible work arrangements and reducing the number of apps and tools used by employees. By doing so, companies can help reduce burnout and improve productivity among their workers.

Recommendations

  • Provide flexible work arrangements that allow employees to choose where and when they work.
  • Reduce the number of apps and tools used by employees to minimize the "toggling tax" on productivity.
  • Foster a culture of focused work by giving employees the freedom to focus on tasks without unnecessary distractions.

By implementing these recommendations, companies can help reduce burnout among their employees and improve overall productivity.