Women & Burnout!

Sharing my experience and learning from a recent HR round table discussion about Women and Burnout!

Burnout is not an illness; It is a syndrome of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress and overwork.

Burnout can have serious consequences for women's health and well-being, including physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, and gastrointestinal problems, as well as psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and feelings of worthlessness. It can also impact women's productivity, decision-making power, job satisfaction, and overall quality of life.

In one of my recent surveys done on a group of 183 women, the results astonished me. 67% of the women employees experience similar problems:

1. Doubting themselves constantly
2. Juggling multiple roles
3. Fear of saying no
4. Overthinking
5. Guilt trips
6. Feeling of loneliness
7. Gender Bias
8. Lack of recognition for their contributions
9. Care-giving Responsibilities
10. Work-Life Balance
11. Societal Expectations& Stereotypes
12. And NO SUPPORT FROM OTHER WOMAN COLLEAGUE

After this survey, the single most important thing that needed immediate action was “Offering Psychological Safety” and "Crafting a Psychologically Safe Space for Women”…I must say it is the need of the hour.

Psychological safety is the belief that one can speak up without risk of punishment or humiliation! The act of existing without fear!

For any organization, it is essential to craft an environment for women that promotes their mental health, empowers them, and brings a sense of belonging in a world where they may face systemic barriers, conscious and unconscious bias, and discrimination. They need to be offered a space that has a more equitable and supportive society for all women.

Creating a psychologically safe space for women involves fostering an environment where they feel comfortable expressing themselves, sharing their experiences, and seeking support without fear of judgment, harassment, or discrimination. Here are some key elements that may help to establish such a space:

1. Training and awareness program specially for the leadership role
2. Sensitize through unconscious bias
3. Run some self-care programs for women employees
4. Executing some wonderful re-on-boarding programs for women returning from maternity breaks or long sabbaticals
5. Have Zero Tolerance for Harassment
6. Holistic well-being in the work culture
7. Have a mental health counselor
8. Build a support ecosystem
9. Ask leaders to run the initiatives
10. Respect and maintain Confidentiality
11. On-board some Supportive Community
12. Encourage their women employees to set boundaries, seek support, and prioritize self-care
13. Offer enough Time for Healing
14. Flexibility in work culture
15. And trust their employees

By prioritizing these elements, you can create a psychologically safe space where women feel supported, empowered, and valued. Remember that building and maintaining such a space requires ongoing effort and commitment from everyone involved.

"We deserve to work in supportive environments with organizations that believe in our protection. We must do our part to prioritize our well-being by establishing boundaries, implementing a healthy self-care regimen, leaning on our support groups, and being transparent about what we need." - Tamara Williams

Before I end, I have a question for employers and HR Managers :

What are you doing to create psychologically safe spaces for your female talent? I'd love to hear and share ideas and best practices...

Written By:

Anjali Suneja |

Certified POSH trainer||External IC Member

If you're in need of an expert POSH consultant, an external member to assist in your Internal Committee (IC), or someone to deliver POSH awareness or capacity-building training, reach out to us at [email protected]