Have you noticed a once-enthusiastic employee become drained, negative, and less productive? It can be disheartening to see a great team member seemingly lose their spark. This could be a sign of burnout, where too much stress for too long drains their energy and zaps their motivation to do their best at work.
Burnout can leave employees feeling like a deflated balloon – drained and unable to do their best work. It can affect their health, happiness, and overall well-being. It’s not good for them and can negatively impact workplace environment.
You Can Help! Burnout is treatable, and this post will equip you to identify the signs in your employees and provide the support they need to recover and thrive.
Signs your employee might be burnt out:
Burnout manifests in a variety of ways. Here are some key signs to watch out for:
- Exhaustion: Your employee might seem constantly tired and struggle to hit deadlines they used to breeze through.
- Fading passion: They might not seem as excited about their work anymore, and could even be grumpy or negative about their tasks or coworkers.
- Feeling like a failure: Even though they try hard, they might constantly doubt their abilities and feel like they’re not good enough.
- Work-life balance goes out the whack: They might have trouble focusing, put things off more often, and even call in sick more than usual.
- Self-Care Takes a Backseat: They might be sleeping less, eating unhealthy foods, or ditching activities they used to enjoy.
Helping your employees recharge and thrive:
If you notice these signs in an employee, it’s crucial to offer support. Here are some steps you can take to help them recover:
- Talk it out: Create a safe space for your employees to openly discuss what’s stressing them out, be it feeling overloaded, having unclear expectations, or conflicts with colleagues.
- Help-seeking is okay: Let them know it’s perfectly fine to ask for help, whether it’s from a trusted coworker, a therapist, or even you as their employer.
- Boundaries are good: Help them learn to say no to extra work if their plate is already full. Encourage them to prioritize tasks and delegate when possible.
- Take care of yourself: Support healthy habits by offering flexible hours for exercise or healthy food options in the break room. Remind them to get enough sleep and do things they enjoy outside of work.
- Beat stress together: Offer programs like meditation or yoga classes to help them manage stress. Workshops on stress management could be helpful too. Maybe even incorporate walks in nature into team meetings!
- Professional help is available: For employees struggling significantly, consider offering Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) that provide access to therapists.
Remember, burnout is a common problem, not the employee’s fault. By creating a supportive work environment and addressing the root causes of stress, you can help your employees regain their energy and enthusiasm for the job!
Ready to invest in a thriving workforce?
At Aloe Mind, we offer mental health screening, online and in-person therapy sessions, and mental health talks and workshops! Our EAP can be tailored to your company’s needs and size. We have worked with over 10 organisations to help their employee’s mental health.
How to start?
Contact us if you’d like us to be part of your plan in helping your employees!
Learn more here or email us at [email protected]!