Burnout is more than just stress—it’s a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion that leads to disengagement, lower productivity, and higher turnover. With remote work blurring boundaries, burnout is on the rise.
Here’s how to recognize, address, and prevent burnout in your team before it escalates.
✔ Withdrawal – Skipping meetings, avoiding collaboration
✔ Procrastination – Missing deadlines, lower work quality
✔ Irritability – Negative attitude, snapping at colleagues
✔ Presenteeism – Physically "at work" but mentally checked out
✔ Chronic fatigue – Always tired, even after weekends
✔ Insomnia or oversleeping – Disrupted sleep patterns
✔ Loss of motivation – "I just don’t care anymore" mindset
✔ Increased cynicism – Pessimistic about work, clients, or leadership
✔ More mistakes – Sloppy errors in previously solid work
✔ Avoiding challenges – Sticking to easy tasks only
✔ Declining engagement – No participation in discussions
Don’t say: "You just need to push through."
Do say: "I’ve noticed you seem overwhelmed. How can we help?"
Temporarily remove non-essential tasks
Adjust deadlines where possible
Provide access to therapy (e.g., BetterHelp, Lyra)
Encourage real PTO (no "working vacations")
Clarify priorities (what’s truly urgent vs. what can wait)
Check if unrealistic expectations are the root cause
✅ Model healthy boundaries – Don’t email late, take real breaks
✅ Regular 1:1 check-ins – Ask about workload & stress levels
✅ Recognize effort – Frequent, specific praise goes a long way
✅ Enforce reasonable work hours – No glorifying overwork
✅ Train leaders on burnout prevention – Spot early signs
✅ Offer flexible schedules – Let employees control their time
✅ Learn to say no – Don’t overcommit
✅ Take micro-breaks – 5 mins every hour to recharge
✅ Disconnect after work – No "just one more email"
76% of workers experience burnout at least sometimes (Gallup)
Burnout costs employers up to $190B annually in healthcare & turnover (Harvard Business Review)
Remote employees are 43% more likely to work overtime (Owl Labs)
Burnout isn’t an individual failure—it’s a workplace issue. The best fix? Proactive prevention through better workload management, real work-life balance, and a culture that prioritizes well-being over hustle.
Next Steps:
Survey your team anonymously about stress levels.
Train managers on burnout detection.
Review workloads – Are they sustainable?