Combating burnout and stress: A Q&A with Kayla Lebovits

We have all heard the trend of “quiet quitting” which is caused by burnout. But how do we combat this trend and get employees back on track? Find employee wellness programs that meet all employees’ needs, not just a few employees.

So says Kayla Lebovits, CEO and Founder of BundleBenefits, a virtual employee professional development and wellbeing solution.

Why do you think stress and burnout is so high right now among employees?

There are a multitude of reasons why stress and burnout are overpowering employees right now. For one, they are facing inadequate working environments. No matter if it’s WFH, hybrid hot desking, or co-desk sharing, many employees today lack access to a hospitable workspace that is ergonomic and designed to promote productivity and happiness, regardless of where they work. They are also struggling with poor personal organization and time management, causing them to not work as effectively. A big factor of this is due to the disconnect and lack of trust between colleagues and their supervisors; many don’t want to ask for help or questions and instead struggle to do it all or flounder with ambiguity in direction. Unrealistic deadlines and expectations continue to be thrown at employees, creating pressure for them to do more with less and faster. We are also starting to see “under the bus” culture come to light. This is when employees are more willing to point fingers at their colleagues, given deficiencies in trust, which results in undermining cohesion and comradery and breeds uneasiness and apprehension amongst teams.

Why is stress and burnout the highest among young people?

Young employees are struggling with more stressors than the older generation had when they first entered the workforce — downturn economy, COVID-19 concerns, remote work, transition from school to work, lack of workspace community, etc. — especially given they have less experience managing stress in a productive way. All of this, on top of the live stresses associated with social media norms, pushes them to feel inadequate in new and challenging ways.

Why should wellbeing be a core pillar of an overall business strategy?

Data shows that employees perform better when they feel their company cares about their wellbeing and is willing to take care of them. If companies want to maintain a competitive talent and business edge, wellbeing will need to be at the core of their business strategy. If not made a priority or implemented throughout the company, this can impact profits, customer support, sales, safety and more, leading to unfortunate business outcomes.

What workplace wellbeing programs should companies be putting their dollars towards? How can these programs be cost effective?

Employee wellbeing programs need to meet all of their employees needs, not just a subset of needs. When building a workplace wellbeing program companies need to listen to what their employees need and want, rather than just checking off a box that it’s covered and done with. They need to offer benefits that span across the entire employee wellbeing spectrum and reach the range of employees regardless of where they are in their lives or careers. Programs that meet employee needs and fill gaps are more likely to be used, and in turn benefit the company in the value they bring far more than the cost they take to implement. A recurring problem on HRs end is that they are quick to pick just one solution that only supports a subset of the population. And when no one uses it, they are shocked and face senior level scrutiny for wasted funds.

What is your top advice for employees experiencing burnout? And top advice for employers trying to help their stressed employees?

Employees – know that you are not alone. Burnout affects everyone internally or externally at some point in their career and it doesn’t just stay at work, it follows you. It’s not something to be ashamed of or reflects your worth or value. Learn what it looks like and follow the steps that will help you take care of yourself in the best way that works for you. Only then can you be your best at home and at work.

Related: Get physical to fight employee burnout

Employers – don’t wait. Find wellbeing solutions that benefit all of your people — not just a subset. Listen in order to understand ALL of their needs and then identify solutions to fill those gaps. Check in on your people on a regular basis and show them you care and are available.