Something unusual is happening. Your star employee is becoming irritable, late for work, and unproductive. Another employee who usually completes work on-time starts to turn in his reports late, and with a lot of errors. A manager decides to file an indefinite leave because “he’s had it”. Watch out: these may be signs of employee burnout.
When workers feel overworked and underappreciated—especially for long periods—their morale and performance can suffer. And burned-out employees cost you time and money and hinder your company’s growth.
– From Inc.com
Employee Burnout and Retention
Kronos Incorporated and Future Workplace conducted a study and found that 95 percent of HR leaders admit that employee burnout is sabotaging workforce retention. So what could you do to make your talents stay?
Promote a Team Environment
Many employee burnouts begin because they feel left out or they feel like they’re the only ones not contributing to the accomplishments of the company or the team. Regularly talk to your employees to prevent them from losing sight of company goals and make sure that they know that their role in the team is as important as anyone else’s.
Set Realistic Expectations
Challenges are essential for employee development but don’t raise your bars too high. Your goals and expectations should be realistic, so as not to put unnecessary pressure on your workers. They could do a good job but you’ll be the one hindering them.
Emphasize on Clear Communication
Talk to your employees clearly. Miscommunication is one of the biggest culprits in burnout. Layout clearly and concisely each direction and always be open for questions and clarifications to prevent any misunderstanding.
Recognition of Good Performance
The best way to boost employee morale is to recognize how an employee performs. Noticing your employee’s good work shows that you care about them and their contributions. You could commend their efforts publicly, give rewards because of their good performance, or just a simple congratulations with a few words of motivation will do. Underappreciated employees usually stop giving their best and quit.
Give Them Breaktimes
Focusing on work is good, but breaks are also essential. Your employees need time to relax and rejuvenate every now and then. Simple things like catering lunch, breakfast or a little pa-merienda could help. Playing lively music during idle times as well as offering other recreational activities for your employees are also good ways for downtimes.
These five things are just some things that could help prevent employee burnout in your company. What other tips could you give?