News and updates

Burnout rates in New Zealand workers have increased three-fold since 2020 - from approximately one in nine to one in five by 2023 (Massey University, 2023).

Dr Haar's June 2023 research revealed the risk of burnout is higher for managers (27 per cent) than employees (20 per cent), with no significant difference by sector (public, private, not-for-profit) or gender.

Work demands, bullying and harassment, discrimination, loneliness and perfectionism are all cited as factors associated with increased rates of burnout, though causal factors can differ across individuals.

Sometimes burnout follows the person and needs to be addressed at the individual level.

For the burned out, fried and exhausted, take a listen to this podcast from Ten Percent Happier with Dan Brown and Emily & Amelia Nagoski. It's a great way for those suffering from the 'burnt toast' feeling to regain a sense of control when it can feel like there's no way out.

However, it's also important that organisations take action to address workplace stressors and unhealthy working conditions for people.

Addressing burnout requires a multi-level organisational response, with everyone taking responsibility for the issue. This article from MIT identifies some tangible things organisations and managers can do to address the issue and support employees:

• Organisational leaders should focus on creating an environment that is supportive of mental health and acknowledges the challenges employees face.
• Managers are advised to foster open communication, recognise employee efforts, and take steps to make workloads more manageable.
• Employees are encouraged to set clear boundaries, practice self-care, and seek support when needed.

Here is a fantastic article and guide outlining factors contributing to burnout, signs and symptoms in those suffering, and tools and strategies for both individuals and managers to combat it. It's a decent read (approximately 30 minutes), but worth it for those wanting to know more.