Burnout is a workplace phenomenon that results in persistent fatigue, reduced performance at work, and feelings of cynicism or disconnection from work.

Workplace burnout can be a serious problem, affecting both mental and physical health.

When employers do not address chronic stress in the workplace, it can lead to job dissatisfaction and absences from work. It can also lead to the opposite, presenteeism, which is when people attend work but are not as productive.

This article will consider the causes, signs, who is at risk, and how to manage work burnout.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as “chronic, unmanageable workplace stress.” It is an occupational phenomenon, but it is not a distinct medical condition.

This is because workplace burnout is situational. It is the result of a workplace’s characteristics and cannot occur for other reasons.

People sometimes use the word “burnout” to refer to the effects of other types of chronic stress, such as caregiver burnout or parent burnout. However, the WHO and other medical authorities currently only use the term for workplace stress.

According to the International Classification of Diseases 11th revision (ICD-11), the signs of burnout are:

  • feelings of low energy or exhaustion
  • cynicism or negativity relating to work
  • mental distancing from the job
  • a sense of ineffectiveness

Other sources also mention that people with burnout may feel irritable or bored. They may also use coping mechanisms, such as escapism or avoidance, to try to manage these feelings.

Burnout versus depression

Depression can resemble burnout. However, workplace burnout is context-dependent. It can only occur as a result of chronic workplace stress, whereas depression can occur for many different reasons.

That said, older research notes that burnout and depression may have similar underlying processes. The study also found that those with current depressive symptoms were more likely to have more severe burnout. It may be that burnout can lead to depression or worsen existing depression.

The symptoms of depression can include:

Help is out there

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

  • Call or text the 988 Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
  • Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

The cause of workplace burnout is long-term stress. Many factors could cause this. According to an article by the American Psychological Association (APA), they include:

  • excessive workloads
  • a lack of support
  • unclear job roles
  • difficult working hours
  • having little say, control, or autonomy at work
  • a lack of recognition for efforts or achievement
  • injustice
  • a toxic work environment
  • fear of job loss

Anyone can experience burnout in the right circumstances. The risk might be higher among certain professions and industries, though, such as those that have:

  • long hours
  • high workloads
  • split shifts
  • temporary contracts
  • repetitive, boring, or unfulfilling tasks
  • tasks that feel pointless, hopeless, or out of a person’s control

Burnout appears to be more common in people who:

  • care for others, as in healthcare, education, and social work
  • often encounter traumatic situations, such as emergency workers
  • work for instant delivery services, often with low pay, long hours, exposure to weather, and risks on the road
  • do potentially dangerous jobs, such as deep coal mining
  • work for employers who do not follow the rules of fair labor

People with healthy coping strategies may fare better than those without, up to a point. However, if stress levels are high or persist for a long time, these strategies will no longer be enough to prevent burnout.

Those who already have depression or anxiety, or have fewer coping strategies, may be more affected.

Burnout and inequality

Research from 2022 found that, globally, people from historically marginalized groups face greater stress at work and a higher risk of burnout. Disparities in pay and feelings of helplessness were important factors.

A review mentions a past study of scientific investigators in the United States, which found that 30% of those from Black, Latinx, and other underrepresented groups had burnout, compared with 18% of white investigators.

Possible consequences of burnout for an individual include:

  • difficulty working
  • difficulty adapting to new tasks or changes
  • loss of motivation
  • loss of self-esteem
  • avoiding work, such as by procrastinating
  • worry about productivity or job loss
  • taking time off from work
  • leaving the workplace

Burnout also has links to other conditions, such as:

For employers, not addressing burnout could lead to:

  • more employee absences
  • higher employee turnover
  • low motivation and morale
  • more frequent errors
  • reduced output or missed deadlines
  • negative behavior among employees

A growing body of evidence suggests there is an urgent need to address burnout and mental well-being at work.

Some workplaces already have strategies in place, such as training, coaching, or counseling to help employees manage stress and prevent burnout. If this is the case, people can make use of these resources.

Other strategies that may help individuals recover from burnout include:

Reflecting on working practices

People do not always take on long hours, high workloads, or unfulfilling jobs by choice. However, in situations where a person can choose to work differently, it may help to reflect on how changes in their way of working could help with burnout.

A person could ask themselves:

  • Do I need to be working this many hours?
  • Am I saying “yes” to too many tasks or clients?
  • Could I delegate this to someone else?
  • Are there any tools or resources that could help me do tasks more easily or in less time?
  • Can I find more interesting or rewarding tasks within my job?

Talking with a manager

If burnout is persistent, it may be worthwhile to talk about it with a manager if it is safe to do so.

Before the discussion, it may help to list some things that are contributing to burnout, and how this is affecting productivity. A manager may also appreciate suggestions for things that might help.

If a person has concerns that having this discussion could result in repercussions for them, they should seek professional advice on how to handle the situation first, such as from a lawyer or union.

Using healthy coping strategies

Sometimes, coping strategies can make a difference to burnout. It may help to:

  • set boundaries around working hours and availability
  • set aside regular time to “unplug” from work
  • take all permitted breaks
  • use paid time off
  • prioritize self-care outside of work
  • get enough sleep
  • try mindfulness, meditation, or other stress-reduction techniques
  • spend quality time with colleagues, friends, or family

Taking time off

For some, working less or taking time off is necessary to fully recover from burnout. However, that time off, on its own, may only be a short-term solution in some cases. For long-term recovery, people may need to combine time off with other approaches.

For example, a 2021 narrative review on burnout in healthcare highlights that measures that improve emotional resilience and engagement in the workplace may help.

Contact a doctor or therapist

If these measures do not help with burnout, or the effects are severe, speak with a health professional.

Learn more about burnout recovery.

Here are some questions people often ask about workplace burnout.

How can you recover from work burnout?

This depends on the options available. For example, some managers may be open to flexible working, changing roles, or delegating tasks. Other workplaces may have support or counseling for stress and burnout.

In some cases, though, people need time off to recover from burnout. An employer may also need to make changes to their practices to address the problem.

What happens if you work through burnout?

Working through burnout may be feasible for some people. For instance, a person may decide to keep going until they reach an upcoming goal or deadline, then take a break. Some may also be able to take on less work or change their hours.

However, those with persistent or severe burnout should not work through it indefinitely if they can help it. This could lead to further problems, such as mental health conditions.

Workplace burnout happens when a person experiences chronic stress at work. This leads to three signs of burnout: loss of energy, negativity or cynicism toward work, and a loss of efficacy.

Experts consider burnout to be an occupational phenomenon rather than a medical condition, as it is not an individual problem but a response to a situation.

Burnout can significantly affect a person’s mental and physical well-being. To some extent, individuals can use coping strategies or mental health support to deal with burnout. However, if a workplace does not change its practices, they and others may keep experiencing it.

People can seek help for burnout by speaking with a doctor or mental health professional or, if possible, by using any support services that a workplace provides.