The terms burnout and brownout have become quite common in the modern age, especially with the disappearance or shrinking of the boundaries of the distinction between work and personal life, which makes many employees lose their passion for work and daily tasks. Burnout is often the result of extreme pressure in the work environment, which leads to physical and psychological exhaustion and is marked by chronic exhaustion, cynicism, negative feelings and reduced productivity. Brownout is considered a mild form of burnout and often involves a loss of motivation and engagement in one's work.
It is important to note that burnout at the workplace has been studied and discussed at great length previously by the World Health Organization (WHO). Further emphasising the dangers, a recent study conducted by the Saudi website Tuhoon says that the following factors are the main reasons for employee burnout.
Stress on multitasking: Stress at work directly affects productivity and mental health because of the large number of tasks assigned to them.
Lack of appreciation: The absence of moral and material appreciation may negatively affect the employee's energy and desire to work, as when the employee does not feel appreciated or important in the work team, their level of frustration increases.
Abuse and bullying: When an employee faces any psychological abuse, such as bullying or physical abuse.
Lack of social support: When an employee is isolated from colleagues or family, it may cause stress or a sense of lack of belonging.
Lack of work-social life balance: Some employees need help to separate work and private life, which negatively affects their relationship with their personal lives and social circles.
Lack of professional development: An employee may feel burnt out if the job does not offer suitable opportunities for professional growth and development.
Burnout is especially seen in employees in workplaces where there is a high level of tension and anxiety among employees, often leading to irritability and aggressive behaviour. Some employees can also face situations where their work timings interfere with their circadian cycles, often leading to a decrease in the overall quality of work.
Employers who address the above issues can be rewarded by having a workforce that is suitably motivated and satisfied, leading to higher productivity and less absenteeism. Factors that help keep high standards of motivation include appreciation and recognition of employees in front of their peers, as well as financial and non-financial incentives.
To conclude, understanding and overcoming these causes will lead to a better work experience for both employee and employer, leading to higher chances of achieving business success.
