More than one-third of U.S. workers report feeling burned out at work and another one-third say they are more burned out now than they were one year ago. This is according to talent solutions firm Robert Half, which surveyed nearly 2,000 professionals.
The top factors contributing to burnout are heavy workloads and long hours, cited by 40% of respondents. Thirty percent say they lack support and recognition from their manager and 27% said there are not enough professional growth opportunities at their current job.
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Millennials are the cohort who feel the highest levels of burnout, with 40% reporting they feel burned out. Thirty-nine percent of Gen Z say they are burned out. Meanwhile, 38% of working parents say they struggle with job burnout and 37% of professionals at small and midsize businesses are feeling burned out, according to the report.
"With burnout on the rise, managers must take steps to monitor workloads, maintain open communication and support employee wellbeing," said Dawn Fay, operational president at Robert Half.
This is especially important as organizations continue to struggle with hiring, according to a separate Robert Half survey of more than 1,600 hiring managers. Employee burnout was cited as the top reason companies were unable to staff an open role in a timely manner, according to the firm. Other factors include delayed project timelines, decreased productivity of existing staff and higher employee turnover.
"Burnout is not just an employee issue — it's a critical business challenge,” said Fay. “During times of heavy workloads or delayed hiring cycles, employers need to address burnout head-on, or risk falling behind on critical projects and losing staff."Robert Half said employers can encourage employees to take time off to support their wellbeing and mental health. In addition, helping prioritize projects and manage timelines to ensure manageable workloads can combat burnout, said the firm. Other strategies it offered include hiring additional support to ease workloads, recognizing and appreciating employees’ hard work and accomplishments, and fostering open communication and a supportive environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their challenges and needs.
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Kristen Smithberg
Kristen Smithberg is a Colorado-based freelance writer who covers commercial real estate, insurance, benefits and retirement topics for BenefitsPRO and other industry publications.
