How to Prevent Employee Burnout at Work

Burnout.

Since COVID, this has become a more pervasive issue in the workplace. This is partially thanks to more awareness and public dialogue about mental health, but is also due to the tremendous demands we are all experiencing. 

From global challenges like climate change, wars, and recessions, to local challenges like remote employee policies, equity, and parental leave. The landscape has shifted, and disruptive changes seem to be the new normal. Workplace stress and job burnout are at all-time highs, and the stress levels across industries are palpable.

The bad news? There’s no silver bullet solution for employee burnout or workplace burnout.

The great news? It is possible to protect ourselves and our employees from burnout if we focus on some core foundations like employee engagement, employee well-being, and promoting a healthy work-life balance: if they tie together.

Understanding burnout: a reframe

Burnout is formally defined as a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress in the workplace.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines burnout with three main symptoms, which are often caused by chronic workplace stress:

• Energy depletion: Persistent exhaustion or lack of energy.
• Mental distance: Increased cynicism or negativity toward one’s job.
• Reduced professional efficacy: Feeling incompetent or less effective at work.

But this definition merely describes the symptoms of burnout. 

It doesn’t help us address the fundamental drivers behind why some employees are at the end of their tether. 

For that, we need to broaden the lens and look at contributing factors like chronic stress, high job demands, and overwhelming workload.

At Sanctus, we like to define burnout in three parts:

1. Burnout happens when the work environment doesn’t have adequate support and resources for employees to handle job demands effectively. 
2. This can be due to misaligned values, lack of flexibility, recognition, and resources like regular breaks.
3. Without the necessary support, employee stress accumulates. This leaves employees feeling exhausted, disconnected, and ultimately reduces employee productivity.

Burnout is the exhaustion that happens when the demands of our work exceed our mental, emotional, and physical capacities & resources.

The goal, therefore, is to take the focus away from burnout itself and focus on the ecosystem of our organisation—creating a positive work environment where employee retention, recognition, and wellness are prioritised.

The key to prevention: keeping the tanks full

The real question isn’t “How do we stop burnout?” but rather, “How do we ensure our employees’ energy tanks are consistently refueled?”

Is your organization a place where the physical, emotional, and mental energy of your employees is continually replenished? 

Traditional employee benefits, such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and wellness workshops, often only address the symptoms of burnout, not the underlying causes.

In contrast, initiatives like Sanctus Coaching, Listening, and Mentoring focus on creating a proactive and supportive culture that prevents burnout before it starts.

Instead of relying solely on reactive programs to extinguish burnout, it’s time to learn from companies that have mastered the art of creating burnout-proof workplaces by enhancing employee experience and promoting work-life balance.

1. Trust in leadership

One of the key factors in preventing burnout is trust in leadership. At companies like Synchrony, ranked among the top workplaces, leadership is consistent, transparent, reliable, and responsive to employee needs. 

According to a survey, 94% of Synchrony employees feel that the company is a great place to work, with trust in leadership being a significant factor in this sentiment. This trust is foundational to the company’s culture, where employees feel valued and are more likely to stay engaged and motivated. 

Employees feel that their leaders truly care, which fosters long-term loyalty and employee engagement. 

Trust is not just about good vibes—it’s strategic, leading to a more committed and productive workforce and long-term well-being.

How Sanctus can help:

• Connected Leadership Coaching Program: Helps leaders build trust within their teams through consistency, transparency, and responsiveness.
• Manager Training Program: Equips managers with the skills needs to foster trust and employee engagement, and prevents work-related stress.
• Sanctus Listening Platform: Provides a space for employees to voice concerns, ensuring they feel heard and valued.

2. Flexibility in work arrangements

Flexibility is another crucial element in preventing burnout. Companies like American Express have successfully implemented a robust hybrid and flexible work policy known as Amex Flex. This offers employees flexibility in how and where they work.

This policy allows employees to choose from three different work arrangements: fully onsite, fully virtual, or a hybrid model that combines both in-office and remote work. The majority of American Express employees have opted for the hybrid model, typically working from the office two days a week and from home for the remainder.

One of the standout features of Amex Flex is its “work from anywhere” policy, which allows employees to work from a location other than their primary worksite for up to four weeks a year. This flexibility reduces employee stress and increases job satisfaction, leading to higher employee productivity and engagement.

How Sanctus can help:

• Sanctus OD Consultation: Helps organisations strategise and implement flexible work policies that balance independence with teamwork, reducing workplace stress.
• Connect & Reflect Workshops: Designed to build connections across digital boundaries, ensuring remote employees stay engaged and supported.

3. Purpose alignment

Investing in employees’ growth and aligning their career paths with the company’s mission is another effective burnout prevention strategy. Companies like Hilton actively develop employees’ careers, aligning personal and professional purpose.

One of their foundational pillars is purpose, and Hilton has stayed true to their founding vision of ‘filling the Earth with the light and warmth of hospitality.’ This sense of shared purpose is deeply ingrained in the company’s culture, motivating employees to deliver exceptional guest experiences and contribute positively to the communities they serve. 

When employees see their work as meaningful and impactful, burnout prevention becomes a natural part of the culture. Employees feel their hard work truly pays off, reducing stress levels and increasing employee wellness.

How Sanctus can help:

• Sanctus Drop-In Coaching: Provides continuous, accessible coaching for employees to support personal and professional growth.
• Nominated Coaching: Offers tailored support for employees, particularly those at risk of burnout, to reconnect them with their sense of purpose.

4. Showing genuine care for employee well-being

Caring for employees’ mental and emotional well-being is essential in preventing burnout. Companies like Cadence show how to promote employee wellness with initiatives like “Global Recharge Days.” This notable initiative is an additional 10 extra days off a year, where the entire company shuts down for extra holidays.

These designated days off are in addition to regular vacation time and are designed to ensure that all employees have the opportunity to completely disconnect from work and recharge. This break from normal working hours recognises the importance of mental and emotional well-being, helping to prevent burnout by giving them the necessary time to fully rest and rejuvenate.

How Sanctus can help:

• Custom Well-Being Oriented Workshops: Tailored initiatives to address specific needs, ensuring employees feel supported and valued, even in high-pressure professions like professional services.

Conclusion

Preventing burnout isn’t about putting out fires as they arise; it’s about creating a work environment where burnout doesn’t have a chance to take hold. By focusing on employee experience, flexible work arrangements, and employee feedback, we can reduce work-related stress and promote long-term employee well-being.

Creating truly burnout-proof workplaces means shifting focus from treating symptoms to addressing the ecosystem where employees thrive, remain engaged, and feel valued.

By following the examples of companies that have successfully created supportive, flexible, and growth-oriented cultures, and by implementing comprehensive support systems like those offered by Sanctus, we can move beyond burnout prevention to create truly burnout-proof workplaces.