52 HEALTH AND WELLBEING


SPOTTING WORKPLACE BURNOUT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE


YOLO Wellbeing says recognising the early warnings of burnout is essential for fostering a healthy, engaged workplace.


Here, Cheryle Britton shares eight critical signs to watch for and preventative measures business leaders can adopt to curb burnout before it takes root.


Declining productivity


An employee who was once a go-getter now seems to struggle with even the simplest tasks. Declining productivity isn’t just about lack of motivation – it’s often a glaring sign of emotional and physical exhaustion.


Burnout can lead to reduced cognitive function, slower work output and errors in tasks they would normally handle with ease. If someone’s to-do list keeps growing with little progress, it’s a major red flag.


Increased absenteeism


Sick days may start piling up as burnt-out employees grapple with stress-related physical and mental health challenges. Fatigue and anxiety take a physical toll, leaving them more vulnerable to illnesses or workplace avoidance.


Excessive absenteeism doesn’t just raise overhead costs; it places undue pressure on other team members, potentially creating a cascading effect of disengagement throughout the workplace.


Emotional detachment


Your once-enthusiastic colleagues now seem aloof or disconnected during meetings. Emotional detachment often stems from chronic stress, leading employees to “switch off” as a survival mechanism.


Workplaces brimming with enthusiastic and energised employees thrive. However, emotional detachment suggests that your team isn’t just tired – they’re mentally checked out.


Uncharacteristic irritability


Have you noticed someone snapping more often or getting frustrated over minor issues? A typically calm employee who increasingly struggles with patience might be showing signs of burnout. Irritability is often a response to overstimulation and feeling overwhelmed.


Unchecked stress can bubble over, creating rifts between employees or reduced team cohesion. Left unaddressed, this tension can spread, diminishing workplace harmony.


Poor sleep quality


Burnt-out employees often struggle with sleep. Whether it’s insomnia, waking multiple times a night, or feeling unrested, poor sleep quality exacerbates stress levels and significantly hinders overall performance.


According to the Sleep Foundation, lack of rest leads to a 32 per cent decline in productivity. Prolonged exhaustion increases health risks, too, such as cardiovascular issues, chronic fatigue and impaired immune response.


Loss of creativity and problem-solving skills


Burnout drains more than energy, it dampens creativity. If someone who usually contributes innovative ideas to brainstorm sessions suddenly goes quiet, burnout might be at play. Problem-solving and out-of-the-box thinking often falter when individuals are overwhelmed.


It’s not simply about a “bad week” at work. Sustained burnout can make creative employees second-guess themselves, even in areas they once excelled.


Physical symptoms of stress


Recurring headaches, digestive issues, muscle pain or illnesses can point to burnout. Constant stress manifests physically and employees might not even connect the dots between ongoing discomfort and workplace strain.


It’s important to approach physical symptoms holistically. Ignored, these can compound and lead to serious health concerns.


Extreme perfectionism or procrastination


Burnout impacts motivation differently for everyone. For some, it drives extreme perfectionism, where employees become paralysed by the prospect of making a mistake. For others, it results in procrastination and the pressure to succeed becomes so daunting that tasks are endlessly delayed.


Both approaches negatively influence not just individual output but team dynamics. Collaboration can falter when certain members fail to deliver on expectations or agonise over tiny, irrelevant details.


Building a burnout-free culture


Burnout isn’t inevitable – it’s preventable. Organisations that invest in wellness initiatives as part of the wider wellbeing workplace culture see the rewards reflected through improved engagement, productivity and worker satisfaction.


Focusing on practical wellbeing measures can give your employees the tools they need to thrive personally and professionally. Happy, healthy workplaces positively influence everyone, from employees to bottom-line profits.


Encouraging continuous dialogue and embedding services that nurture both body and mind will set your business apart as a genuinely supportive employer.


David Dunwell and Jen Briggs Continued from Page 51


“And it starts from the top. Leaders set the tone and, truth is, stress often hits hardest at the top.”


“You’ve got to spot the warning signs – in yourself and others – and act early. Be honest, know what to look for, and have the right support in place before things snowball.


“We believe in promoting good health and wellbeing, focusing on prevention not cure. Poor health is rarely the real problem, it’s a symptom of something deeper.


“When we work with businesses, it’s usually part of a wider culture strategy that we help bring to life. It’s about making wellbeing real, not just words on a poster, promoting better self-care every day.”


David Dunwell, chief executive of Lancashire Mind, says: “Workplace wellbeing should be a key focus for all employers. Looking after your teams and ensuring you provide a supportive and inclusive environment directly drives productivity, reduces sickness and staff turnover.


“We continue to drive forward change and offer support for employees and employers.


“Our teams have helped more than 1,000 local businesses in the last decade and have seen a range of issues faced by organisations including line managing people with mental health conditions, work related stress, burn out and a lack of internal resources to support employees’ mental health.”


Lancashire Mind has been running a pilot project with leading Ribble Valley hospitality group James’ Places to boost health and wellbeing of its staff. The winner of the Health and Wellbeing category in the Red Rose Awards is offering an employee assistance programme (EAP) to any James’ Places staff member experiencing worry, anxiety or poor health.


David says: “We know there are mixed quality Cheryle Britton


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