Burnout in the workplace can be really damaging for any business. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.
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It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. Having such a situation in a workspace is a huge risk. It can lead to
business dysfunction, total breakdown and mitigate progress. There are several reasons for burnout. They include:
- Unclear job expectations.
- Dysfunctional workplace dynamics.
- Extremes of activity.
- Lack of social support.
- Work-life imbalance.
Workplace burnout is a two-way situation: it can affect both the employer or employee. In this article, we shall point out 8 ways to avoid employee/employer burnout in the workplace.
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Be Realistic When Assigning Roles
Don’t assign overwhelming tasks to yourself or an employee. Don’t assign a role meant for more than one person to a single individual.
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Assign Roles That Suits Passion
As an employer ensure that the assigned roles are compatible with your employee’s area of expertise, strength and passion.
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Allow For Side Project Within The Workplace
Successful companies like Google Inc. have always been at the frontline in allowing their employees have work-related side projects. Some of the innovative ideas Google have introduced to the world were birthed from her employees’ side projects.
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Break Time Must Be Compulsory In Workplace
You and your workers aren’t machines. An hour lunch break is a must activity for you and your employees. Also, 15 minutes tea break is a non-negotiable activity that must be incorporated as part of work ethics. These 15 minutes could be used for stretching, taking a walk around the office, brief chats with coworkers.
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Let There Be Flexibility In The Workplace
This is very important when dealing with deadlines or when a goal is becoming unrealistic and unachievable. When an employee is not getting an assignment right, learn to reassign.
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Have Reasonable Working Hours
Have reasonable working hours that are in alignment with the company’s workforce. An average of 12 hours a day and 90 hours a week has been often advised. However, depending on the company’s target, goals and enthusiasm, the hours may be increased or lowered as long as it is fine with employees.
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Define Employee’s Role
In many Nigerian workplaces, it’s observed that an employee can be forced to carry out multiple roles. A single employee may be made to do the work of a clerk, an accountant, a cashier, a marketer, an errand person within a company. To avoid burnout in the workplace, avoid micromanaging employees. Let there be a definition of the role and what’s expected of an employee. Describe their roles and ensuring that it’s well understood and accepted by employees.
- Ensure There’s Socialization Among Coworkers.
When there’s an adequate social culture in the workplace it reduces burnout and stress. When employees have rapport, it gets to make the workplace fun to be. It’s advisable to have sports facilities and cafés within the workplace where socialization can occur.
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