How to prevent employee burnout in winter

If there’s anything that the recent years have taught us, it’s that employee burnout is no joke.

There's been high-profile cases lately of businesses addressing and proactively working to reduce burnout. From the Bank of America's Chief Resource Officer initiative, to trials of the four-day workweek gaining massive traction, numerous organisations are on the front foot in addressing and mitigating employee burnout.

So how do you spot the signs of employee burnout, and is it worse during the winter months?

What exactly is employee burnout?

Sometimes people can use the term ‘burnout’ to describe feeling overly tired or when they’re in need of a good holiday.

But employee burnout is much more than that. The World Health Organisation classed burnout as a workplace syndrome in 2019 and described it as “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”.

How do I spot the early signs of workplace burnout?

Employee burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a series of triggers that gradually happen over time causing even the most passionate employee to feel the effects.

Here are some of the most common symptoms:

• Increased mental distance from work

• Reduced productivity

• Lack of energy

• Negative attitude towards work

It’s important to familiarise yourself with these symptoms so you can spot the early warning signs of burnout and get your staff the support they need.

So, are my staff more likely to burn out in the winter then?

Well, yes and no. While the shorter days and lower temperatures can understandably take a toll on your teams mental health, particularly for those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD); staff can burn out at any time of the year.

While workloads also tend to increase year-end as businesses rush through jobs to meet their end-of-year targets, each business and industry is different. For example, tourism and hospitality businesses often find summer to be busier and more stressful. The key takeaway is that burnout is a persistent problem that can take shape in any season.

What can I do to reduce the risk of employee burnout?

By creating a healthy workplace culture, you can do your bit to reduce employee burnout in your business. Here are our top four tips:

1) Regularly check in with your staff

Without speaking to your employees, you’re not going to know if there’s anything that’s bothering them. So, make sure to schedule regular one-to-ones with your staff to give them the opportunity to open up to you.

2) Invest in employee engagement initiatives

Employee engagement initiatives are a way to create a positive and fulfilling work environment for your staff. They can range from small gestures to large overarching employee engagement programs. Some examples include team-building exercises, wellness programs, flexible work arrangements. They're a great and wide-ranging method to reduce stress and burnout.

3) Promote a healthy work-life balance

Do your staff come in early, skip lunch breaks and answer emails at the weekends? Then your business could be promoting an unhealthy work-life balance.

Instead, you should encourage your people to switch off outside of work hours, always take their breaks and book time off when they need it. You can ensure your staff are taking regular time off with Blip.

4) Reward your employees

Make sure to acknowledge your staff for the good work that they do. When your staff feel valued for their hard work and dedication, they’re happier in their jobs and less likely to hold negative attitudes towards their work. Employee recognition platforms like PRAISE are a great way to empower and incentivise your team.

5) Invest in an employee assistance programme

Your employees might not always want to open up to you. That’s why it’s vital that you have an employee assistance programme like Bright Wellbeing & Counselling in place.

It’s a complete wellbeing service that gives your staff access to 24/7 confidential advice, face-to-face counselling sessions and on-the-go wellbeing support.

Want to learn more about Bright Wellbeing & Counselling and how it supports your staff? Book a free demo or speak to us on 0800 470 2432 and we'll walk you through it.