THE BURNOUT CHALLENGE

Strategies for a healthy workplace.

Psychologist Maslach, creator of the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Leiter, an organizational psychologist and consultant, offer a well-grounded examination of the causes of widespread job dissatisfaction and burnout along with proposals for solutions. “At a time when leaders extol the virtues of respectful workplaces and engaging teamwork,” they note, “complaints of incivility, abuse, and bullying run rampant.” If workers feel “ignored, limited, manipulated, distrusted, and undermined,” they become increasingly frustrated. Chronic exhaustion, cynicism, and a feeling of ineffectiveness are caused by problems that include work overload, breakdown of community, and workers’ sense of a lack of control—problems that became exacerbated during the pandemic, when working at home eroded boundaries between jobs and private life. Because burnout has been stigmatized as a sign of weakness, workers “are often reluctant to self-identify as having this problem or needing help.” The authors, though, see burnout as “a social phenomenon” that needs to be addressed by organizational solutions. Although a “massive self-care industry” advises getting enough sleep and eating healthy foods, these suggestions alone will not eliminate burnout, which is caused by a mismatch between workers and workplace environments. These mismatches, the authors have found, can be discovered through direct input from workers and managers, surveys, and organizational assessments. In an appendix, they present an informal questionnaire designed for a worker’s self-assessment. Once the area of a problem mismatch is identified, employers should consider ways to pivot to improve the job-person relationship—e.g., creating a sustainable workload, nurturing a supportive work community, and giving workers ample choice and control. The authors’ approach to problem-solving “combines the power of collaboration, customization, and commitment. These ‘three C’s’ all serve to boost participation” and can lead to lasting improvements. “Essential to any pivot,” they add, “is to pose a basic question: What will success look like?”

Thoughtful advice for managers and employers.