Almost 90 percent of Australian employees acknowledge burnout as a workplace issue, with most looking for employers to offer more support.
A new poll commissioned by Beyond Blue, which asked Australians about their experiences of stress and burnout in the workplace, found that 88 percent of respondents believed burnout was an important issue, while two in three people rejected the idea that burnout was a personal failing.
Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman said workers experiencing chronic stress and burnout were at greater risk of mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.
“Employees are voicing a clear need for greater consideration to be given to wellbeing in their working conditions,” Mr Harman said.
“That means integrating wellbeing into how work is designed and experienced, from manageable workloads and adequate resourcing to leadership that genuinely supports them.”
He said Australian employees were calling for more than just awareness when it came to workplace mental health, with a strong demand for real, proactive change that improved people’s day-to-day experiences at work.
“Most businesses want to do the right thing, but need clearer pathways to get started, so there’s more work to be done.”
Mr Harman said workers pointed to systemic factors such as inappropriate workload (49 percent), lack of management support (32 percent), and inflexible working conditions (21 percent) as the top causes of burnout.
He said the data also highlighted a range of further challenges workers faced, including emotional exhaustion and disengagement, with many feeling disconnected at work.
“The poll found that 44 percent of workers felt lonely and 39 percent felt excluded at work at least sometimes, and 18 percent said no one at work ‘had their back’.”
Visit the Beyond Blue Work and Mental Health page for tips and advice.
