WORKPLACE BURNOUT: Here’s how managers can spot it & take action

ACHIEVING a sense of balance between work and personal life has now become a challenge and the imbalance somewhere leads to stress for which the mind and body pay the price.

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Workplace burnout, which is getting more attention lately, has major physical and emotional consequences. Although most people think that being burnt out makes you more irritable and unmotivated, there are serious physical and mental health risks linked to the issue, reported CNN. For most people, their workplace is consistently one of their leading stressors. Earlier this year, the issue was added to the World Health Organization's list of official medical diagnoses.

Burnout can occur when we suffer chronic stress at work, explained David Ballard, senior director of the American Psychological Association’s Office of Applied Psychology.

According to Ballard, people are only capable of handling stress in short bursts, so when one faces increased levels of stress at work for a long time, they risk burning out. Ballard noted that not only is it linked to mental and physical health risks, but can also affect job performance, the CNN report stated.

“If it's not managed effectively over time, it can affect job performance. It can leave one feeling exhausted, unmotivated and ineffective on the job. Job performance can also suffer," Ballard said.

Managers and employees both play an equally essential role when it comes to identifying and managing job burnout.

“Employees have to take steps to have effective coping skills to manage stress. Employers can work to create an environment that is conducive to healthy employees: identifying stressors and reducing and eliminating them when they can and making sure they have health and manage resources,” Ballard said.

Here's a list of potential red flags that managers can spot and take action: