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Team well-being: how to prevent employee burnout

Why burnout is a business problem

Burnout is often perceived as a personal issue, something that an individual needs to manage on their own. However, in the workplace, burnout is a serious business problem. Burned-out employees find it harder to focus and perform at their best. Productivity declines, and the rest of the team feels pressured because they must take on additional work to fill the gaps. Preventing employee burnout is crucial to avoiding a chain reaction of fatigue that is hard to stop.  

Also, burnout negatively impacts employee retention. When people are exhausted, they’re more likely to look for a way out by resigning or seeking extended leave. Recruiting and training new employees is costly, and it takes time for them to reach the level of expertise that their predecessors had.

Are you noticing negative changes in your team’s productivity? Perhaps your employees seem drained, deadlines are being missed, or the energy they once had is gone. What used to feel like a passion for workers is now more of a burden.  This situation is challenging not only for the employees, but also for managers and the entire business.

Burnout is a real and growing problem. Mercer’s 2024 Global Talent Trends report says that over 82% of employees worldwide are at risk this year. But is there any solution? You can take steps ahead to prevent it before it gets worse. In this article, we explore simple, practical ways to help your team stay motivated and ready to succeed.

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How to recognize employee burnout

Burnout doesn't come suddenly; it mostly builds up step by step. One of the primary things you might see is a change in the energy levels of your team members. Employees who used to be proactive may seem disengaged or uninterested in their tasks, and you may notice more and more mistakes in their work.

There is an important thing to take note of if employees become unusually negative about their role, colleagues, or even the company. They might also stop taking part in team activities and withdraw from conversations or social events. Workers who once had great ideas or offered solutions to problems might not initiate new projects and leave everything to others.

If you see some of these signs, they likely indicate that some of your team members may be experiencing burnout.

Team well-being: how to prevent employee burnout

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Team well-being: how to prevent employee burnout

Are you noticing negative changes in your team’s productivity? Perhaps your employees seem drained, deadlines are being missed, or the energy they once had is gone. What used to feel like a passion for workers is now more of a burden.  This situation is challenging not only for the employees, but also for managers and the entire business.

Burnout is a real and growing problem. Mercer’s 2024 Global Talent Trends report says that over 82% of employees worldwide are at risk this year. But is there any solution? You can take steps ahead to prevent it before it gets worse. In this article, we explore simple, practical ways to help your team stay motivated and ready to succeed.

Why burnout is a business problem

Burnout is often perceived as a personal issue, something that an individual needs to manage on their own. However, in the workplace, burnout is a serious business problem. Burned-out employees find it harder to focus and perform at their best. Productivity declines, and the rest of the team feels pressured because they must take on additional work to fill the gaps. Preventing employee burnout is crucial to avoiding a chain reaction of fatigue that is hard to stop.  

Also, burnout negatively impacts employee retention. When people are exhausted, they’re more likely to look for a way out by resigning or seeking extended leave. Recruiting and training new employees is costly, and it takes time for them to reach the level of expertise that their predecessors had.

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How to recognize employee burnout

Burnout doesn't come suddenly; it mostly builds up step by step. One of the primary things you might see is a change in the energy levels of your team members. Employees who used to be proactive may seem disengaged or uninterested in their tasks, and you may notice more and more mistakes in their work.

There is an important thing to take note of if employees become unusually negative about their role, colleagues, or even the company. They might also stop taking part in team activities and withdraw from conversations or social events. Workers who once had great ideas or offered solutions to problems might not initiate new projects and leave everything to others.

If you see some of these signs, they likely indicate that some of your team members may be experiencing burnout.

Practical strategies to prevent employee burnout

If you’re wondering how to prevent employee burnout in your team, the strategies outlined below may come in handy.

Providing more freedom

Flexible hours are a simple but effective way to prevent burnout. Instead of being locked into a rigid 9-to-5, employees get the freedom to manage their own schedules. They can choose when to start and finish their day, as long as they’re still working during key hours with the team.  

For example, if someone has young children and needs to take them to school in the morning, they can start work a bit later and still get everything done on time. Similarly, if someone wants to avoid rush hour, they can begin their day later and make their commute less stressful.

Having autonomy over tasks is equally important. Employees feel empowered when they have the trust to decide how to do their work and set priorities. It’s simple: people are happier when they feel they’re making their own decisions rather than just following orders. So, there is a bigger possibility that they will stay committed to their work.

Provide regular "well-being" audits, not just workload check-ins

It is common for managers to check in on workloads and task completion, but many of them forget to ask workers how they feel about their roles, work environment, and work-life balance. Hidden issues may accumulate if they go unnoticed and no action is taken.

For example, an employee might be performing well at work, but if they’re feeling disconnected from their team or unfulfilled in their role, there could be a sign that burnout is on the horizon. Employees stay engaged for longer when they can safely share their struggles and feel understood.  So, checking in on your employees’ job satisfaction and working to improve it is one of the most effective ways to prevent burnout.  

Recognize and reward employees regularly

This point is easy to forget, but a little recognition goes a long way. It doesn't always have to be formal. Rewards like bonuses or employee-of-the-month programs are great, but informal praise is impactful, too. When there are small gestures like a quick note of thanks or recognition in front of the team, workers can see that their contributions matter.  

Motivating employees to stay

When you want to motivate employees, start by showing them their value—not only for their work but for who they are as people. One of the best ways to prevent burnout at work is by offering a benefits package that supports employees' well-being. For example, offering gym memberships supports physical health while providing mental health resources helps manage emotional well-being.  

Plus, the importance of time off is very underestimated. Sometimes, even one day off can help someone reset and come back feeling recharged and do the work even better. So, providing extra paid days off can keep your team feeling supported and loyal.

How to track the success of your strategy

To keep track of your strategy's success, clear metrics are necessary to provide a precise picture of what is happening.

You surely have performance metrics, which can tell you a lot about your team’s engagement and overall effectiveness. Do your team members achieve their KPIs? Do they manage to complete their tasks within deadlines? You can measure productivity by paying closer attention to those things. Poor work results often reflect operational inefficiencies, but in some cases, they may be caused by the team’s low morale.  

Engagement surveys are a good entry point. This way, you can find out what your team members are thinking in terms of whether they are happy with their work or feel stressed. Such surveys help detect possible problems early. For example, you can find out that employees are feeling unclear about their role in the company.

Employee feedback is one of the most important metrics to track. How do the employees feel about what they are doing? Is their workload good or not? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you work on improving your strategy to detect and prevent work burnout.

Conclusion

Knowing how to prevent and combat employee burnout and create healthier workplaces during crises and beyond is essential for keeping your team satisfied and productive. It's crucial to recognize the signs of burnout early and support your employees immediately to prevent the situation from worsening. A motivated, engaged team is a powerful asset, and investing in their well-being pays off in the long run.

If you want to strengthen your tech team with remote talent, ALLSTARSIT is here to help. Contact us, and we’ll help you build a motivated remote team to drive your business forward.

Team well-being: how to prevent employee burnout

Are you noticing negative changes in your team’s productivity? Perhaps your employees seem drained, deadlines are being missed, or the energy they once had is gone. What used to feel like a passion for workers is now more of a burden.  This situation is challenging not only for the employees, but also for managers and the entire business.

Burnout is a real and growing problem. Mercer’s 2024 Global Talent Trends report says that over 82% of employees worldwide are at risk this year. But is there any solution? You can take steps ahead to prevent it before it gets worse. In this article, we explore simple, practical ways to help your team stay motivated and ready to succeed.