Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

StressAnxietyDepressionStressMental health conditions

Almost half of managers think staff are at risk of burnout

by Ashleigh Webber 17 Aug 2020
by Ashleigh Webber 17 Aug 2020 Image: Shutterstock
Image: Shutterstock

Nearly half (47%) of managers think their employees are at risk of burnout following changes to their work patterns because of Covid-19.

This is according to a survey conducted by recruitment firm Robert Walters, which also found more than a third (36%) of UK employees said their mental health and wellbeing had suffered because they had been working longer hours.

Mental health and coronavirus

The post-pandemic work landscape – the role (and risks) of mental health first aid

Maintaining digital wellbeing in the time of coronavirus

Why we need to talk about ‘PPE’ for mental health following coronavirus

Eighty-seven per cent of employees felt under pressure to keep productivity levels high while working from home, delivering a 35% increase in productivity since lockdown restrictions were imposed.

Earlier this year the World Health Organization officially recognised burnout as a medical condition in its 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases.

WHO defines burnout as “a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”. It is characterised by three dimensions, including 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.

Robert Walters’ director of professional services Sam Walters said: “There is no denying that mental health and wellbeing has been on the agenda for most employers – even pre-Covid.

“Increasingly we were seeing offices be re-designed ergonomically, work health insurances enhanced to provide mental health support, and training provided to managers to help understand and deal with employees suffering from poor mental health. Many of these policies were geared around personal mental health issues – such as depression and anxiety – which have an impact or were exasperated by work.

“Burnout is an entirely different and recently recognised condition which, unlike other mental health issues, can be directly linked to work. As a result, employers have a crucial and central role to play in order to ensure their staff do not reach the point of burnout.”

Robert Walters said there were six key areas which can lead to or exasperate burnout:

  • Having unmanageable workloads – 21% claimed the pressure to deliver has impacted their mental health and wellbeing.
  • Lack of control and autonomy – 55% said they were less likely to burn out if they believed their performance metrics are within their control.
  • Lack of recognition.
  • Poor company culture – more than a third of staff felt they couldn’t approach their manager with a mental health concern.
  • Lack of equal opportunities and fairness.
  • Lack of purpose.
Ashleigh Webber
Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is editor at OHW+ and part of the Personnel Today editorial team. Prior to joining Personnel Today in 2018, she covered the road transport sector for Commercial Motor and Motor Transport.

previous post
One in three thinks return to office will be in 2021
next post
‘All views my own’: Monitoring employees’ social media

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Workers feeing increasingly anxious, burnt out and fearful...

13 May 2022

Three-quarters not meeting weekly exercise target

11 May 2022

Mental health still topping the concerns for employers

9 May 2022

Occupational health must help ‘de-risk’ requests for addiction...

6 May 2022

Severe Covid cognitive impairment ‘equivalent to 20 years...

4 May 2022

Four in five GPs suffering with mental health

29 Apr 2022

Government seeks evidence on mental ill-health prevention and...

19 Apr 2022

OH will be key to navigating ‘second pandemic’...

14 Apr 2022

Men’s mental health: motivating staff to open up

12 Apr 2022

Demand for CBT at record levels in England...

11 Apr 2022

  • The importance of being an ethical leader and how to become one PROMOTED | What is ethical leadership?...Read more
  • RPO Report: 2022, The Year to Outsource PROMOTED | Employers should be overwhelmed with choice...Read more
  • Report: Enabling organisational agility through talent & people success PROMOTED | Work has been challenged...Read more
  • Employee Trends 2022 report PROMOTED | Edenred research on employees analysed the key employees’ trends for 2022...Read more
  • How finance apprenticeships can boost business PROMOTED | As the world’s most forward-thinking professional accountancy body...Read more
  • Paul Devoy: Showing appreciation to the Investors in People community PROMOTED | Ask most people what comes to mind when you mention Investors in People...Read more
  • White paper: How digitalisation can support evolving occupational health PROMOTED | Download this free white paper to discover how digitalisation can help occupational health meet emerging challenges...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today