Stress caused by unmanageable workloads and neverending deadlines is affecting every working professional. While some have the tools to help themselves navigate through these setbacks, there are those who do not have those support systems to help them cope with and overcome workplace burnout.

Additionally, the burnout that employees are experiencing today isn’t from a single source. High stress impacts big tasks such as recruiting and retaining employees and is also posing additional difficulties to an already stressed workforce. Inflation too has impacted how people conduct business and when your employees are stressed your productivity gets impacted adversely, creating a domino effect.

With 88% of UK employees having experienced burnout over the last 2 years, it’s clear that burnout or the possibility of burnout is taking a toll on them and their ability to have social interactions with others during the work day.

This is why employee assistance programmes (EAPs) can help employers ease the burden caused by too many stress-inducing scenarios in the workplace and reduce burnout.

Why is employee burnout a problem?

Studies have shown that 72% of Britons have considered their annual leave as an effective way to manage burnout.

Burnout is becoming an issue that cannot be ignored as it can have major consequences on a person’s psychological, physical, and occupational health and wellbeing.

Additional studies have shown that burnout is a predictor of Type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high cholesterol. Psychologically, burnout can cause a number of mental health conditions including depression.

While the impacts of burnout are very real for the employee, the repercussions can also be felt within the workplace. Burnout can cause many employees to take days off work and surveys show that employees are already resorting to this extreme measure as 44% admit to taking time off due to being overwhelmed and unmotivated.

Personalised guidance for better, more effective outcomes

The effects of burnout affect each employee in different ways. Some may experience mental health issues while others experience the effects as physical illnesses. The important thing to remember is that everyone deals with stress in different ways and with the right EAP employees can get the personalised support they need.

Whether it’s a preventive programme or a one-on-one session with an experienced and qualified specialist that has the skills to help employees, it’s important to offer a range of solutions that empowers employees to seek the support they need in a way that benefits them.

Rather than providing generic programmes that offer a single solution to reducing burnout, personalised EAPs allow employees to access the resources they need. It can help them take informed steps to manage their individual situations, leading to a positive outcome.

Preventing problems from escalating

Burnout isn’t something that happens overnight. It is generally built up over a long period of time creating conflicts between supervisors and co-workers in an already pressurised environment.

With an EAP, employees can get the help they need from the moment they start experiencing signs of burnout, stress, or anxiety. Addressing these issues from the start can help avoid big problems from turning into bigger problems in the future causing more serious conflicts.

Employees are also more likely to seek support for any issues that are challenging them since EAPs often promote an open culture where mental health issues are treated in a respectful and confidential manner.

Help with personal problems

Contrary to what most believe, burnout isn’t only caused by workplace stress. 

An EAP offers a way for employees to seek support and get the help they need for any type of problem or issue they are facing. Employers need to take an active role in expanding EAPs to not just cover the issues employees face at work but also the various issues they face outside of work since struggles outside the workplace can also affect job performance. 

From financial difficulties and relationship conflicts to substance abuse and grief, there are many outside forces that can easily affect performance. Maintaining an open dialogue can help bring all these issues to the forefront and create a holistic EAP that addresses every facet of an employee’s life.

Final thoughts on EAPs by Kinhub

Today, there are many reasons—both at work and outside of work—that can create employee burnout. Organisations no longer have the luxury of allowing employees to deal with their problems. Employers have to take an active role in helping employees since the impacts it can have on businesses are too well documented to be ignored.

Having the help of a specialist or access to resources that employees can reach out to in a confidential way can go a long way in reducing workplace burnout and giving employees the support they need to put their wellbeing first—thereby giving your organisation the best version of themselves in return.