Work-life burnout is a real threat - here’s what I’ve learned

Like many working parents, I hit a moment a few years ago when I was struggling to “do it all”. I saw a number of my friends try to balance family and work responsibilities at the expense of their mental health and I knew I did not want to go in the same direction. All of us were struggling to live up to societal and organizational expectations, trying to be primary caregivers while achieving high performance at work.??

For some friends, this led to parental or professional burnout, or both. I remember a moment when I almost went in the same direction. I’m a mom of three young daughters, and I’ve been in corporate roles, some of them international positions, for nearly 20 years, all of their lives. This worked well when my husband was our daughters’ primary caregiver but in 2022 he decided to resume studying and we lost him as our main childcare provider. Keeping everything going at work and at home became so difficult for both of us.?

At the time I was in a senior role in another company leading wellbeing initiatives, and ironically, I hadn’t been taking the best care of my own mental health. An important first step was to create time for myself, without my husband or children. With some friends, I organised a regular Girls’ Night Out, which became primarily a safe space to share how we were feeling. Some were open about experiencing burnout, some were struggling but not seeking help, and some were fine. What mattered most was having the conversation.?

I also started making running a priority. I would allot time to run in the mountains a few times a week, and create other moments that were dedicated just to me, something as simple as getting a haircut.?

We dealt with our childcare needs by continuing to have an au pair and also asking our daughters to be more autonomous, although I was still very present in their daily routines. We encouraged them to try to find their own solutions instead of immediately coming to me, or to be more patient until me or my husband was available.

Reasons for mental health challenges do not just impact working parents: mental load from caring for an ageing parent, a sick partner, or any mental health issue can result in similar struggles. The important thing is that you find a safe space to express your struggle, or seek professional help when needed.?

Encouragingly, I see organisations like Roche prioritising the mental health of employees and providing more resources. And so they should! When mental health suffers, there is a very personal cost to those individuals, but there is also a tangible financial cost for companies, and incentives to prevent mental health issues should be high on the priority list.

At Roche, our high-performance culture depends on people’s wellbeing. To support that we are determined to foster a culture of mental and physical health and wellbeing. The efforts spread far and wide, ranging from informal networks, to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), extended parental leave, peer-to-peer mental health advocates and on-site activities and facilities such as yoga classes and relaxation spaces. Our EAP is available globally and while support varies by country, it always includes confidential counseling for employees who are experiencing stress or mental health challenges, whether personal or work related.??

Additionally, once a year, Roche holds Live Well Weeks, an opportunity over two weeks to focus on mental and physical wellbeing and participate in a variety of events and activities, from meditation to nutrition support to discussions on avoiding stress-inducing behavior

If I look back at my own struggles, I was fortunate to be leading wellbeing initiatives and have a deep understanding of how to go about avoiding a full crisis, knowing when to speak up and who to ask for help. As a company we have a responsibility to make sure everyone has access to resources to support overall wellbeing: we have made important progress but there is more we can do in the future.?

As individuals, we have to keep an eye on ourselves and those around us. There’s no better time than now to take a moment for yourself, and think about whether you’re struggling. It can feel almost impossible to reach out for help when you are at a low point, but it is important to take advantage of the resources around us and ask for help.??

Learn more about our approach to wellbeing at Roche https://careers.roche.com/global/en/your-wellbeing-matters