Your company has proven it can work from a distance, but as the COVID-19 pandemic begins to wear, your employees are facing burnout on all fronts. Use this guide to understand the signs of burnout and to access ready-made tools you can use immediately to improve your team’s Work From Home (WFH) experience tenfold.
As WFH stretches into 2021, employees are experiencing burnout on all fronts.
Work & Life Are Thriving Together
While WFH has its challenges, the positives linked to avoiding the commute abound.
You Can Save the Workday
Avoid burnout by supporting and recognizing your employees for their hard work.
Where We Work
A Special Case of Burnout
The COVID-19 pandemic has put extra pressure on everyone. Between juggling work and home life—plus increased stress levels for adults across the U.S. that are unlike anything the country has experienced in decades—your employees risk burnout from every angle. While the coronavirus has most certainly overstayed its welcome, the public health crisis persists, and performing work at home will prove necessary for the long term.
But let’s get real: Working from home is not exactly easy. It comes with an array of obstacles:
Where’s the OFF button? You’ve finally got the commute of your dreams— a 30-second walk from your bedroom to your desk. But that comes with its own problem: There’s no separation between the workplace and home. And now, it’s past 6 p.m., and you’re still sitting in front of your laptop.
Pardon the interruption(s). You’ve likely gained some new coworkers during this time: family, pets, roommates. Working alongside them comes with distractions that can make it difficult to stay focused on your tasks or in your meetings.
However, things can get easier for your employees—and you can help them more than you ever realized. Experts believe that organizations have the power to help employees overcome many of the causes of burnout.
What Can Cause Employees to Burnout?
Unfair treatment at work
Unmanageable workload
Lack of role clarity
Lack of support from manager
Beware: Burnout Ahead
Spot burnout before it becomes unmanageable for your employees. Here are two more signs to look out for:
Grass looks greener on the other side. According to Gallup, burnt-out employees are 2.6 times as likely to be actively seeking a different job. If your employees are showing signs of disengagement, this could mean they are considering other career opportunities.
Hitting a wall. Burnout leads to exhaustion that can manifest itself in many ways. From low energy to stalled creativity, these red flags can throttle what your team does best.
Burnt-out employees are 2.6 times as likely to be actively seeking a different job.
Gallup (July 2018)
The Good News
Your employees actually like working from home. In a national survey conducted by UrbanTrans North America, the results show far more positives than negatives. The top two most commonly reported positives are linked to the benefits of not commuting:
73% reported that they were saving money on their commute, and 54% reported that they felt less stressed because they did not have to travel to and from their worksite.
More than a third of respondents indicated that they felt they were more productive as well as positive health and wellness benefits. Those hours typically spent commuting have translated into serious productivity time.
And, we know you see the benefits of WFH, too:
Innovation. Your team has knocked 2020’s (or dare we say the decade’s?) biggest curveball out of the park. Not only have they delivered on their goals and projects, they’ve likely mastered the art of problem-solving along the way.
Collaboration. It’s official: your team has proven to each other that you can get work accomplished from anywhere. Excelling at WFH can lead to an abundance of new opportunities in the future for your team and organization at-large.
Increased Productivity. Despite the stress everyone is feeling this year, your employees have been able to tackle their to-do lists and get more done throughout the day. High-five, team!
This is your chance to save the workday.
While WFH has its challenges, it can be easier with the right tools and resources. To help equip your employees with what they need to achieve WFH success and happiness, we’ve put together a memorable resource for you to share with them. Be sure to scroll on to see it.
Learn More
Additional Research
Burnout Is About Your Workplace, Not Your People
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced it’s officially recognizing employee “burnout.” With that recognition comes the shift of responsibility for managing burnout from your employees to your organization.
Your team has worked incredibly hard this year. Let them know that it’s appreciated with some extra support with this readymade WFH care package, specially made for them.
The SANDAG iCommute Telework Assistance Program is a pilot program for San Diego region employers interested in developing, enhancing, or formalizing their long-term telework or remote working initiatives. The program provides employers like you with free, hands-on telework program assistance and services.
Our team crafted this eBook to help you create a more balanced workday, even in the face of ever-changing circumstances. Learn how we can bring more support to your company right now.
Looking for more practical guidance as you prep your 2021 playbook?
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