How Can You Help Your Workforce Avoid Burnout?

Burnout isn’t just a buzzword. Sometimes people confuse a little bit of stress for burnout, but burnout is a very real phenomenon. It can be defined as physical and mental exhaustion and often depression that stem from overwork. Research shows burnout leads to disengagement and a lack of productivity, and burnout can spread among a team just like a cold or the flu. Just one burned out employee can cause an entire team to embark on a rapid downward spiral.

Can You Identify the Signs of Burnout?

You may think you don’t have to worry about burnout, but you might not know the signs. If you notice any combination of the following symptoms on your team, you’re in the burnout danger zone:

  • Increased conflict: If your team typically gets along and works together without issue, but they are suddenly in constant conflict, it is likely the result of extreme stress.
  • Increased apathy: When employees who normally give their all suddenly stop caring about the quality of their work or whether they are hitting their goals, it should raise a red flag.
  • Sudden absenteeism: A seemingly random increase in tardiness, sick days, early exits or unscheduled absences is a sign that people are feeling overworked.
  • Marked change in mood: If your usually-happy and upbeat team now seems like a bunch of Debbie Downers, they may be feeling overly stressed. Significant changes in mood or personality one or more of the team is a sure sign of something brewing.

When people feel burned out, it has a negative impact on productivity. Because they are exhausted, they don’t crank out work at the pace and quality they usually do. Since they start to feel apathetic, you may find your best people browsing the internet or taking extra-long lunches rather than working. They also tend to develop a poor attitude, which can spread quickly. Misery loves company and it only takes one unhappy employee to drag down the mood and morale of the entire group.

Preventing Burnout on Your Team

Burnout can be caused by numerous factors, but the biggest reason is a lack of work-life balance. However, employers know changes in demand dictate the workforce’s schedule. When it’s busy, everybody is expected to chip in and work a little later, take on extra responsibility, work from home, etc. There often seems like there is little that can be done about overwork and overwhelm during periods of high demand.

Luckily, however, there actually is a way to maintain productivity during busy times while preventing burnout on your team. Utilizing skilled consultants on a short-term basis can help keep projects and operations moving on time and on target without drastically increasing the workload of the existing team. And if you find consultants who do an exceptional job, they can be called back for additional projects in the future, which helps maintain a sense of continuity since those professionals won’t have to be retrained or ramped up.

If you are ready to learn more about how consultants can help keep productivity high, contact the agricultural industry staffing experts at Morris Bixby. We can help you achieve your strategic goals and avoid employee burnout with highly skilled consultants.

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