Work-related burnout is at ‘crisis point’

The survey of 2,000 working Brits found that almost a third (28%) have experienced burnout in the past month, with a further quarter (27%) hitting it within the past six months. 

The research also revealed that the main contributors to feeling burnt out at work were a heavy workload (53%), long working hours (46%), unrealistic expectations (34%), lack of recognition (30%) and unfair pressure from leadership (29%).

Those who were surveyed said that burnout impacted their professional life with feelings of frustration (45%), lack of motivation (42%) and feeling undervalued (37%). 

Burnout also impacted their personal lives, as respondents said it made them feel anxious (45%) and unable to relax (45%), while more than a third (36%) suffered from headaches as a result. 

One in five (19%) said their work-related burnout impacted their appetite, and a quarter said their work stress saw them take it out on friends or family (24%).

The survey from PPL PRS also revealed the methods that Brits are using to cope with the effects of burnout. 

Music was cited as the number one choice to help cope with feeling burned out, with nearly two-fifths (37%) saying it’s their ‘go to’ coping method. Other methods include spending time with family and friends (27%), prioritising rest (25%) and setting boundaries (16%).  Worryingly, one in six (14%) said they have no coping mechanism at all. 

Marianne Rizkallah, music therapist for PPL PRS, explains why music can help alleviate a sense of stress or burn out in the workplace: “A silent office can seem intimidating, making it harder for people to speak up or to ask for help. Yet equally working with a booming soundtrack can be distracting and hard for concentration, so it’s important to find a happy medium. This might involve letting employees take turns in what is played or agreeing on a calm playlist that makes the workplace a productive place to be.”

Leadership coach Debbie Green, explains how employers can keep burnout in the workplace in check as she says: “Staff that are burnt out, stressed out or anxious at work aren’t going to be producing their best, and this can have a huge impact on a business as well as the rest of the staff.

“As an employer it’s important to lead by example and to set boundaries for your staff with a clear work/life balance. This is particularly useful for younger employees who might be keen to show their best side and not realise the impact of staying late or doing more than their hours."

“It’s also important to consider how important praise can be and ensure that good work is seen to be rewarded. Regularly acknowledging hard work, great results, or even just brilliant moments when a team has worked together and supported each other can make it clear that work is a positive place to be.”