Burnout has been an increasingly severe issue over recent years. With escalating incidence and urgency from management teams and organizations, this problem is now being actively addressed by many employers. Given its consequences for employee well-being and impact on productivity, it is a core concern for organizations today. Luckily, there are some encouraging signs that the COVID related burnout may be coming to an end. 

Burnout causes feelings of physical and mental exhaustion that translate into the quality of work employees can produce. Stress and fatigue influence an employee’s ability to work effectively, to draw satisfaction from their work, or to be able to connect with colleagues and friends. The overall cost is incurred by both the employee and the organization.

A 2018 Gallup survey found that 23% of the 7,500 surveyed employees reported burnout often or always, while another 44% reported occasional burnout. These excessively high rates called for immediate action into the investigation and amendment of this rising issue. Over recent years, burnout rates have been feared to be on the rise. Especially propelled by the pandemic, worry for employee well-being is rightly placed.

COVID and burnout

The COVID-19 pandemic was unprecedented in the near-total shift it caused towards remote working. It was feared that the new, uncertain situation would lead to a further and more rapid increase in burnout rates. Given the stress caused by the problem, it was believed that workers would be unable to keep up performance.

Burnout rates during COVID

In many cases, fears of increased burnout were valid. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed mental health-related problems into freefall, with existing stress exacerbated by fears for one’s own safety and health, plus job and financial uncertainty. Burnout was found to be decidedly on the rise.

As a matter of fact, burnout rates were found to have risen from 43% in a pre-COVID survey to 52% in 2021. The pandemic most impacted older generations concerning burnout, and individuals already experiencing burnout reported exacerbated symptoms. The pandemic painted, all in all, a worsening picture of employee well-being. 

Stressors during COVID

The environment created by a global pandemic was one of extreme stress and anxiety. Fueled by uncertainty for the future, it caused never-before-seen problems at alarming rates. Reports even suggest, at its onset, it produced traumatic-like symptoms among individuals. 

Fears of contracting the virus and uncertainty over the duration and extent of lockdown inevitably lead to such symptoms. Worries about one’s job, constant social isolation, financial strain, not to mention the challenges of actually contracting the virus, worsened burnout incidence. Needless to say, the situation produced by the pandemic was one few were prepared for.

Getting past COVID burnout   

It has now been two years since the start of the pandemic. While some features of society have changed permanently, much is now returning to some semblance of routine for better or worse. Businesses have since reopened, vaccinations are widely available, and international travel is now possible. Lockdown has been lifted in many parts of the world, ending a long period of isolation. 

Productivity and COVID

Even at the onset of lockdowns, employers feared productivity would go down. This was not simply attributed to the stress of the prevailing situation. Employers feared that the lax, uncontrolled home environment would affect employees’ ability to perform remote work. It was feared to be a major demotivator to work as diligently as employees do in an office space. 

To perhaps the surprise of many, this was not the case. Research showed higher levels of employee engagement with work. Despite lower levels of well-being, employees remained highly involved with work, with rates many times peaking during 2020. Worker performance did not suffer, but in fact, saw an improvement during remote work.

Motivated employees mean less burnout

Lockdown gave remote employees a lot more control over their working hours. Flexible working allows for a better work-life balance as individuals can work on customized schedules. This actually contributed to lower work-related stress among remote employees. SInce lockdown, 60% of surveyed participants prefer remote working, with 55% believing productivity has remained stable, if not increased. 

The success of remote working has been such that many companies have now considered it a permanent option. Remote work would likely become a regular feature of work where possible. Excluding external factors, work-from-home opportunities have received widespread approval as being beneficial for both employer and employee.

To conclude from this, there can be no denying the devastating effects of the pandemic on people’s lives. While well-being was at an all-time low, employee engagement and productivity saw unpredicted increases. The pandemic also brought into the spotlight burnout issues, leading to companies taking steps to address it. As the world adjusts to the new situation and begins moving towards the normal, we can see a reduction in burnout rates. And as encouraging signs are starting to show, employee well-being may soon start to be on the rise, leading to less burnout.