How to Recognize The Signs of Burnout in Your Employees and Create an Effective Burnout Recovery Plan

Building healthy relationships with employees can improve an employer’s ability to identify and address signs of burnout. When you take the time to understand your employees' individual needs and values, you can tailor your company’s support systems to their unique needs and create a work environment that helps to prevent burnout. According to a recent Aflac WorkForces Report, more than half (59%) of American workers are experiencing at least moderate levels of burnout. When employers build strong relationships with employees, it becomes easier to recognize any changes in an employee’s behavior or performance that may indicate they are struggling. This level of awareness can help employers intervene and provide the appropriate resources to help employees manage stress and ultimately prevent burnout. In the event that signs of burnout may go unnoticed, it’s important to have a burnout recovery plan prepared so that you can help your employees bounce back to being the stellar team members that you know they are. 

Noticing The Signs: 

Companies that emphasize self-care are not exempt from dealing with employee burnout. At my counseling practice, Healing Springs Wellness Center, we emphasize a culture that prioritizes self-care. Even with a supportive culture in our workplace, one of my best employees recently experienced burnout. Luckily, because of our established relationship, I was able to notice the signs of burnout and recognize the changes in their behavior. Here are the patterns I noticed, which indicated that this team member was experiencing burnout: 

• Constantly complaining of being tired 

• Dreading seeing clients 

• Increased anxiety 

• Doubt that they were being effective with clients 

• Changes in their personal life (stopped hanging out socially, withdrawn from friends).

One of the biggest mistakes that leaders make is ignoring the signs of burnout in their employees and not having a plan to remedy the situation. This could lead to poor retention rates, poor client satisfaction, and increased hiring costs. It is better to be preventive and address the issue before it's too late. I addressed this issue by having a sit-down meeting where we explored the signs of burnout together and helped them to come up with a plan for recovery. 

Creating a plan: 

After addressing the signs of burnout, we then created a custom burnout recovery plan which included, reevaluating their workload (they have a job outside of our practice so agreed to modify their schedule to allow for more rest), not working on weekends, and scheduling time for exercise and socializing. They agreed to follow the plan for the next thirty days. I am happy to report that they are feeling better and continue to meet their productivity goals within the practice. This situation emphasized the importance of our relationship, and the impact that burnout recovery planning can have on an employee's productivity. 

Burnout is a very serious issue that can have a significant impact on the overall health and well-being of your employees. It is important to be aware of the signs so that you can prevent burnout and help your employees stay productive and healthy. Here are some common signs of burnout to look out for: 

• Decreased motivation: If your employee is no longer enthusiastic about their work or is reluctant to take on new tasks, this could be a sign of burnout. 

• Exhaustion: If your employee is constantly tired and lacks energy, this could be a sign that they are experiencing burnout. 

• Increased absences: If your employee is taking more time off than usual or is frequently late, this may be a sign of burnout. 

• Apathy: If your employee is becoming increasingly apathetic and unengaged in their work, this could signal that they are experiencing burnout. 

• Poor performance: If your employee’s performance is declining, this could be a sign that they are suffering from burnout. 

If you notice any of these signs in your employees, it is important to take immediate action. Provide them with direct support and resources, give them additional breaks, or encourage them to take time off if needed. Your proactive response will also reassure them that your company is dedicated to providing a supportive and positive work environment. 

How to create a burnout recovery plan for your employees: 

Creating a burnout recovery plan for your employees is a great way to ensure their health and well-being in the workplace. By creating a custom recovery plan together, you can indicate to your employees that you value them as people and understand that they cannot pour into your business without pouring into themselves. Here are some helpful tips for creating a successful burnout recovery plan: 

• Assess employees for signs of burnout. Make sure to check in with employees regularly to identify signs of burnout such as reduced productivity or increased stress levels.

• Develop an individualized plan for each employee. Don't offer every employee a standard, one-size-fits-all recovery plan. Make them feel seen! Consider each employee’s unique needs and develop a plan that best suits their individual situation in order to ensure a successful recovery. 

• Keep the conversation human-centered. As you discuss your employee's signs of burnout and work together to develop a recovery plan, it's important to keep the conversation focused on their needs - not your business. Placing heavy emphasis on how their stress is impacting the company might imply that you're only being supportive for your own professional gain, rather than presenting an attitude of genuine concern. Let employees know that you value your relationship and that you care about their well being as a human, not just because they contribute to the success of your business.

• Offer additional resources. Encourage employees to take advantage of resources such as counseling, meditation, yoga, and other activities that can help reduce stress and burnout. 

• Encourage communication. Encourage open communication between employees and management to ensure any problems are identified and addressed early on. 

By following these steps, your company can address employee burnout with a supportive strategy and create effective recovery plans that will help employees stay healthy and productive in the workplace. CLICK HERE for more details on how I can help your leadership team learn to recognize the signs of burnout and create an effective burnout recovery plan, or wellness workshop, for your employees.