Thinking Frog Corner: Avoiding Burnout from Remote Work

On one hand, working remote opens up a new world of opportunities to create a work life balance. On another, having your work space at the fingertips may lead even to higher levels of burnout... What can we do to avoid it?

How to prevent employee burnout in remote jobs

To recognize emotional burnout, you need to know its symptoms. A burned-out person looks as if he or she is very tired. However, this state does not change after a weekend or vacation, the employee begins to feel depressed and irritated. A person in a state of burnout is not confident, reluctant to take on new tasks, does not generate ideas, breaks rules and saves energy as much as possible. If you suspect that a remote employee is burned out, you need to understand what stage of burnout he is at. From this will depend on the further actions of the head of the company.

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Causes of emotional burnout at work:

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1.???? Excessive workload. Often employees can enthusiastically take on all tasks at once, and then fail to cope with their fulfillment. Stress and dissatisfaction with their own productivity arise, which, in turn, become causes of burnout in an employee.

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2.???? Unfair attitude. It can be expressed in neglect of merit, inattention to needs, obvious allocation of “favorites”, unwillingness to make contact, bias based on race, gender or appearance, and so on.

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3.???? Unclear responsibilities. Constantly shifting priorities and a lack of understanding of one’s place in the company prevent an employee from planning his or her time and adequately evaluating performance.

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4.???? Unreasonably tight deadlines. If an employee has enough time to do all the work and is confident about it, the likelihood of burnout is reduced by 70%.

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5.???? Lack of feedback and support from management. Surveys conducted in the USA have shown that only 60% of employees know what is expected of them.

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How can a manager keep employees from burning out on remote work?

1.???? Create a culture of caring and support:

- Regular meetings: Hold not only work meetings but also informal meetings to maintain team spirit and learn about employees’ personal matters.

- Feedback: Give regular feedback, praise for successes and offer support when difficulties arise.

- Open communication: Be available for questions and concerns and don’t leave employees hanging.

- Employee support programs: Offer access to mental health resources, stress management programs, and online skill-building courses.

2.???? Provide flexibility and balance:

- Flexible schedules: Allow employees to plan their own day and work hours, taking into account their personal needs.

- Limit work hours: Ensure that employees do not work overtime or respond to work emails after hours.

- Vacations and days off: Encourage employees to take vacations and days off to recharge and rest.

3.???? Transparency and clarity:

- Clear tasks and expectations: Formulate clear tasks and performance criteria so that employees are free from uncertainty and stress.

- Regular scheduling: Plan the work week together so that employees have an understanding of tasks and deadlines.

- Accessibility of information: Ensure access to necessary information so that employees can solve problems on their own and are not dependent on you.

4.???? Maintain team spirit:

- Virtual events: Organize online events for socializing and fun, such as virtual lunches, games, contests.

- Collaborative Projects: Offer opportunities to work on collaborative projects so that employees have a chance to interact and share experiences.

- Encourage initiative: Encourage employees to take initiative and come up with ideas so they feel part of the team.

5.???? Recognize personal needs:

- Pay attention to changes in employee behavior: If you notice that an employee has become less productive, complains more often, or shows signs of burnout, talk to them and offer help.

- Encourage employees to take care of themselves: Support them in sports, meditation, hobbies and other activities that help them relax and de-stress.

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6.???? Professional help:

? -Counseling with a psychologist: If you notice that an employee is experiencing serious burnout issues, suggest that they see a psychologist or mental health professional.

What should an employee do to avoid burnout?

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1.???? Build a trusting relationship with your immediate supervisor. If you feel overburdened or deadlines are too tight, it’s best to communicate this upfront and discuss solutions. Set measurable and achievable goals together.

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2.???? Share your worries with family and friends. If you are worried about a problem at work, don’t be alone with it.

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3.???? Take short breaks from computer use: distance yourself from the screen several times a day, do a warm-up, take a walk, pour tea or coffee.

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4.???? Be sure to include physical activity in your daily routine: long walks, cycling, running, yoga, fitness or sports games. It’s a simple and effective way to feel better.

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5.???? Get outside for fresh air and sunshine.

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6.???? Don’t deny yourself a hobby. It helps to switch and not think about work, which means you can take on things with renewed energy and a fresh head.

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7.???? Don’t be afraid to take the occasional day off to get your head in order.

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8.???? Plan a vacation. Aside from the practicality, this activity in itself stimulates pleasant emotions.

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9.???? Try meditation or breathing practices.