Why Millennials Are Experiencing The Bulk Of Manager Burnout

New research from Gallup and MetLife shows that manager burnout is at an all-time high, and Millennials are experiencing the bulk of it. 

The Gallup study showed that manager burnout grew from 27% in 2020 to 35% in 2021. Even more, 42% of Millennial managers stated experiencing workplace-related stress and exhaustion. 

One of the main reasons managers are seeing increased levels of burnout is the ongoing job exodus, also referred to as the Great Resignation. At a time when companies need top talent, recruiting new workers has become increasingly difficult. 

As a result, managers are feeling the pressure to fill new positions and taking over additional responsibilities in the workplace, leaving them with little room to care for their own wellbeing.  

Confirming this, just one in four managers strongly agreed that they were able to balance work and personal responsibilities throughout 2021. 

According to MetLife’s report, trying to support others amidst these challenging times has also hindered manager’s own wellbeing. 

More specifically, Gallup showed that a lack of support, muddled communication from leadership, and large workloads has contributed to growing stress among managers. 

“The pandemic has changed the way we work, from the way we do our jobs to how we interact with one another, and managers have been tasked with navigating this for their employees,” said Missy Plohr-Memming, senior vice president of group benefits at MetLife. “As the largest generation in the workforce today, millennials — and particularly those in management roles — have a significant impact on their organization’s ability to succeed in the new normal.”