Workplace Burnout

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout is a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been managed.  Burnout affects workers both mentally and physically and can lead to increased accidents and injuries. 

Workplace burnout is characterized by three dimensions: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job, and reduced professional efficacy (WHO, 2019).

Factors that can contribute to workplace burnout include:

• Lack of influence over factors such as your schedule, assignments or workload or lacking the necessary resources to work efficiently and properly
• Not feeling heard, appreciated and respected at work
• Lack of clarity about what is expected of you at work — you are always on edge worrying about whether you are doing the right thing the right way
• Dysfunction in the workplace: bullying, being undermined by colleagues, micromanagement or feeling isolated and unsupported
• Lack of social support: feeling isolated at work and in your personal life
• Work-life imbalance: no time or energy after working to spend time with family and friends
• Consistent heavy workload and long work hours

Are You Experiencing Workplace Burnout?

• Have you become cynical or critical at work?
• Do you drag yourself to work and have trouble getting started?
• Are you irritable or impatient with co-workers, students or others?
• Do you lack the energy to be consistently productive?
• Do you find it hard to concentrate?
• Do you lack satisfaction from your achievements?
• Do you feel disillusioned about your job?
• Are you using food, drugs or alcohol to feel better or to simply not feel?
• Have your sleep habits changed?
• Are you troubled by unexplained headaches, stomach problems or other physical complaints?

What Can You Do About Workplace Burnout?

• Discuss concerns with your supervisor: work together to clearly define expectations, find new solutions and set priorities  
• Seek support from co-workers, friends, loved ones or a mental health professional.  All NCCU employees have access to an Employee Assistance Program by calling 888-298-3907. 
• Get regular exercise and sleep
• Eat healthy foods and limit alcohol consumption
• Practice mindfulness

• American Psychiatric Association
  • Growing a Healthy Lab: Positive workplace culture in the laboratory leads to happier researchers and better science.
  • How Supervisors Can Promote Health and Well-being: Learn how to support employees and recognize signs of stress to reduce turnover and absenteeism.
• Burnout in the Digital Age: How to Avoid Workplace Stress: This page discusses what burnout is, how to combat it, changes to look for and how to balance workplace stress.
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Quality of Worklife Questionnaire: A free assessment tool to measure worker well-being.
• DHHS NIOSH Working with Stress Video