Your employees with peak performance are some of the best assets at your company. It’s easy as an employer to focus on this productivity without questioning whether your employees are happy.
When employees are overworked or underappreciated, it often leads to burn out. What does this look like? It may feel like they are stressed, exhausted, and becoming cynical about their work for your employee. To you, it may look like decreased productivity. In some cases, it may be impossible to recognize at all. Employees who want to be viewed well at their job aren’t likely to speak up on their own about burn out.
So what can employers do to keep employees happy, productive, and wanting to stay on at their jobs?
Be Mindful Of Your Work Culture Pushing Employees Too Hard
To prevent employees from burnout, you can refine your work culture to promote behaviors that overwork employees.
This sounds vague, but it comes with simple actions.
For example, employers used to put in place programs that encouraged employees not to take their vacation or sick days. Instead, encourage your employees to use those days, so they take breaks and clear their minds.
Apply this as well to taking breaks during the day and socializing. Even if you are working remotely, you can find ways to encourage employees to take breaks, so they are more focused when actively working.
Create a work culture that encourages people to be mindful of taking care of themselves as human beings. This will pay off in healthier and happier employees who feel respected in the workplace.
Give Them More Control Where You Can
Many employees who suffer from burn out don’t feel like they have any control over their days. Micromanaging employees may seem like a great way to get them to stay on task, but it can also make them feel suffocated. Give your employees as much space as you can to create a stress-free work environment.
Keep Business Processes Efficient
Are you having too many meetings? This is a common worker complaint. Are you offering your employees tools to make their days more efficient and respecting their time? One way to keep employees from burning out is by looking at tools for making their jobs more efficient. This can look like offering new automation tools for scheduling their tasks or making sure meetings are tightly scheduled, with only those needed in attendance.
Connect With Them To Ask How It’s Going
The best way to know how your employees are feeling about their job is to ask them. Perform regular reviews and have private meetings with them. During this time, it’s good to go over their tasks and how they’re managing the day to day. Do they feel overworked? Are they adequately challenged? Are they happy at their job? You won’t honestly know how they feel until you ask them.