Almost two years into the pandemic employees are struggling with burnout like never before, and they are worried about their future career path, according to a study by LHH and The Adecco Group.
38% of almost 15,000 employees surveyed have suffered from burnout more in the last 12 months than in 2020, and 32% saw a decline in their mental health as a result.
This rises to 45% for Gen Z and 42% for millennials. The wellbeing crisis comes as working hours have increased by 14% since 2020 with 63% working more than 40 hours a week.
Unfortunately, managers report that they are struggling to spot the signs of burnout (51%) and identify which staff are struggling with their mental health (53%).
This is acknowledged by 67% of non-managers said leaders don’t meet expectations regarding checking on employees’ welling.
In addition to this burnout crisis, only 48% of employees are satisfied with their career prospects, this declines to 34% for those in non-managerial positions.
Almost half of leaders (48%) said they struggled with supporting career prospects, although almost seven in ten managers believe it is important for companies to provide coaching and mentoring to employees.
How to thrive in the ‘Great Re-evaluation’
As a result of these challenges and their impact on retention, Adecco and LHH says now is the time for the ‘Great Re-evaluation’ and for companies to reconnect with employees around wellbeing, skills and development opportunities.
“Career re-assessment looks set to converge with career opportunity,” according to the study. 70% of employees said employer support for mental health will be of extreme importance in the future.
Talking about the study, LHH president John Morgan said: “As companies struggle with worker retention amid increasing resignations, we’re facing a workforce crisis that is not getting enough focus.
“If we don’t collectively tackle employee wellness challenges, things could get worse and have not only public health impacts but also potential economic impacts.”
“Organizational empathy must be incorporated into culture to avoid what could become a significant crisis for workers and companies alike.”
The report recommends that companies “establish processes, resources, coaching and tools to foster openness and to listen to employees’ needs in order to help workers develop resilience”.
This is where HR tech can help; Adecco and LLH advise using “cognitive technologies for employee wellbeing can provide increased visibility into burnout warning indicators and generate awareness amongst individuals and leaders to address the issue”.
“The successful leaders of the next normal will be those who: Trust their teams to get the job done; show empathy; support their teams to work flexibly; encourage healthy working styles; and provide an environment of psychological safety”, according to Adecco and LHH.
This is echoed by a recent McKinsey podcast episode where experts argue that those that don’t get with the times will fail in the ongoing ‘Great Resignation’. It is either adapt or struggle.
Sign up to the UNLEASH Newsletter
Get the Editor’s picks of the week delivered straight to your inbox!
