Employee burnout is a major cause for concern for companies. The COVID-19 pandemic has only served to worsen this pre-existing issue. However, more and more companies across the globe are going the extra mile to promote their employees’ mental health and psychological wellness in 2021.

Several companies have acknowledged the importance of the mental well-being of their employees amid trying times. In addition, they have come up with effective and beneficial strategies to cope with employee burnout, anxiety, and other mental health issues.

Through the implementation of such measures, a lot of companies are aiming to gain a better understanding of the needs of their employees. This, in turn, could even serve to Improve Employee Experience in the aftermath of the pandemic.

What exactly is employee burnout?

Everyone encounters the brunt of burnout at some point in their lives. A recent survey conducted by Gallup has revealed that 76% of employees experience burnout at least sometimes.

The term “burnout” first came into being in the 1970s. Burnout refers to the feelings of fatigue and chronic exhaustion caused by several stressors. The World Health Organization has even recognized workplace burnout as an occupational phenomenon.

The negative impact of employee burnout and remote work on organizations

The year 2020 was marked by a significant shift in work routines. With the strict imposition of lockdowns around the globe, employees in different sectors were forced to work remotely. This has had a negative effect on many. Work-related stress coupled with the stressors encountered in their domestic lives have affected the mental health of many remote workers. Many have complained of anxiety, depression, and other similar issues. Employee burnout has thus, taken a turn for the worse.

Overcoming employee burnout

Employee burnout prevention and remediation is not an easy task especially given the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.

Companies have developed a host of solutions to address employee burnout. These measures stem from their willingness to prevent the decline of the overall productivity of their employees, and consequently, the companies themselves.

Empathy is a powerful tool: A number of companies are directing their managers and HR professionals to be empathetic towards their employees. Managers can be trained on handling employee burnout using specialized training programs. Such sessions can help them provide better guidance to their staff on overcoming psychological issues.

Keeping a watchful eye: Employees – especially those coping with stress or displaying passive signs of burnout – can be provided with counseling services. Their objective is to make their employees feel heard, understood, and supported. Such strategies will go a long way in fostering strong relationships between employers and their employees. This, in turn, will help build a good trust-based support system for employees – also benefiting the employers in terms of improved motivation and increased productivity.

Leading by example: Even C-level executives are coming forward to help their employees cope with burnout, by embracing a top-down approach to employee wellness. Leaders of well-known companies have been reaching out to their employees to validate and remediate their struggles. In fact, some are even opening up to their subordinates about their own struggles.

The occasional digital detox: A lot of companies are allowing their employees to take time-outs. Many employers are promoting the importance of digital detox among employees. A few have extended the scope of “sick leaves” and are referring to them as “wellness leaves”. Such wellness leaves are granted to workers so that they can recoup and rejuvenate, regaining their energy by allowing built-up stress to dissipate.

Instant feedback: Employee feedback is another tool that has proven highly effective. For feedback to be effective, it needs to be sought immediately after the fact. Employee feedback is often obtained through surveys. Based on this feedback, companies can get a clear picture of their employee's needs and even their state of mind. This can help recruiters and HR professionals take timely remedial action and enable employees to combat the problems they encounter every day.

In Conclusion

Reaching out and extending a helping hand is an exceptionally rewarding thing to do in a time of crisis. Companies should augment their outreach throughout 2021 through technology-enabled platforms that collect and analyze on-time feedback.

Dropthought is one such tool that helps to foster an environment of trust and well-being. Dropthought enables an employee-friendly ambiance, improving employee experience to a great extent. We integrate into your employee journey using a lightweight UI, interactive dashboards, and advanced analytics, allowing you to harness the insights you need to build strong employee-employer relationships.

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