Companies have laid out strategies in an effort to combat the increased levels of burnout that workers are experiencing. However, many of these plans forget essential steps that can truly tackle this mental health crisis.
For starters, companies need to create a fully-thought-out plan, rather than just a few strategies to address burnout. These plans should include asking employees specific questions about how their work day looks in order to get a full understanding of their situation.
Avoid relying solely on surveys to get these answers. Using HR data, leaders can gain a complete look into the health of their organization and what needs to change to better support workers.
That’s when companies can make concrete policy changes and create an environment that values the wellbeing of workers, acknowledges their good work and helps them create a reasonable schedule.
The next step is to stay in communication with staff, as they provide the most accurate testimony of the company’s health. Instead of sending out the occasional email about the company’s flexible policies, remind workers that their needs are important to the workplace as a whole.
Lastly, leaders will need to recognize the deep-rooted issues that may masquerade as burnout. Oftentimes, burnout can be mistaken for a poor workplace culture that lacks inclusivity and diversity.
Adopting flexible or remote working policies won’t resolve the microaggressions and discrimination workers with marginalized identities face. In short, leaders need to identify the “why” of workers who are struggling in the workplace, and sometimes that means addressing the company’s own structures.
