It can really be hard to keep a team motivated when morale is low. Actually, it can be hard to keep morale high if it seems as if everyone is always so burnt out all the time. Now, if employees keep burning out and it's happening like a regular event in your business, it’s time to hit pause and figure out why.
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So, it’s really important to understand that burnout isn’t just something that happens because people aren’t “tough enough” or because it’s “just part of the job.” It’s a sign that something’s off in your workplace.
So, with that all said, let’s dive into why your employees keep burning out and what you can do to keep this from happening.
Reasons Why Employees Keep Burning Out
Too Much Work, Not Enough Time
If you want to start focusing on building resilience in the workplace, overloading people with work with little care is not the way to do it. It’s never going to be the way to do it. So, one major reason employees burn out is that they’re simply overloaded.
Actually, a good chunk of the time, it’s only due to people constantly being overloaded. When people are drowning in a sea of tasks with no lifeline in sight, it’s only a matter of time before they start to sink.
If your team’s workload is unrealistic, they’re going to feel stressed, overwhelmed, and eventually burned out. You can’t expect one person to be an entire department, and you can’t expect one person to do the roles of two or more people.
But the problem is, this mentality is getting way too common in the workplace. It’s all in the name of cutting costs, but it’s mostly about greed than anything else.
But if you think about it, overloaded people aren’t working smart. It’s technically more costly in the long run. So basically, you need to make sure your people have enough time to actually do their jobs well—without running on fumes.
Micromanagement Like a Freedom Killer
Nobody likes to be micromanaged, it makes them feel like a child. So, when every little move is monitored, and every decision is second-guessed, employees start feeling like they’re not trusted to do their jobs. And guess what? That’s a fast track to burnout.
So, you have to understand that people need to feel like they have some control over their work. If they’re constantly being watched and can’t make decisions on their own, their motivation tanks and stress levels shoot through the roof. Give your team some breathing room—they’ll thank you for it.
Lack of Recognition
Everyone wants to feel appreciated for their hard work. When people put in the effort day after day, and no one seems to notice, it’s demoralising. Over time, this lack of recognition can make employees feel like their work doesn’t matter—and that’s a fast way to burn them out.
Toxic Work Culture
This one is really obvious, but even so, it still deserves attention. So, if the overall vibe in your workplace is toxic, burnout isn’t just a possibility—it’s a guarantee.
A culture filled with blame, unrealistic expectations, poor leadership, and lack of support is the perfect breeding ground for stress and burnout. Plus, you can expect negative Glassdoor reviews too.
