As the days grow longer and the temperatures warmer, most of us begin thinking about upcoming vacations or time away from work. Summer offers some of the best months to recharge and ensure we have the energy and focus we need for a strong finish to the rest of the year.
Every engagement study in the past 12 months, both US and globally, has highlighted the growing trend of employee burnout.
How to Manage Employee Burnout During Summer
- A recent Korn Ferry survey reported that 89% of professionals say they are suffering from burnout, with the vast majority (81%) reporting they are more burned out now than they were before anyone had ever heard of COVID-19.
- Employee burnout accounts for 40% of staff turnover, and the average cost of replacement for these workers is 120%-200% of their original salary.
- And a Deloitte survey revealed that almost 70% of executives are considering leaving their jobs for workplaces that care more for their well-being. According to the same study, 57% of employees outside of management roles want to quit for similar reasons. Fatigue and lack of support are dominant factors in leaders and executives.
Burnout is a serious issue, and mid-year is an excellent time for companies and leaders to schedule a wellness check-in for their teams and commit to providing resources for needed support.
Here are just a few ways you can help your employees with managing burnout during these summer months:
- Model and champion work-life balance: Make sure you take your own personal vacation time and encourage your team to take time off and fully disconnect from emails and screen time when they do. This can include flexible work schedules, summer Fridays, and making sure that employees actually use their vacation and PTO benefits.
- Prioritize mental health: Make mental fitness a daily habit by encouraging breaks throughout the day, offering mindfulness or meditation apps or classes, and getting the word out about employer-provided mental health resources such as employee assistance programs.
- Level up your wellness: Include programs and activities that encourage physical activity, healthy eating, time outdoors, good sleep hygiene, and stress reduction activities such as yoga classes or walking.
- Build a positive work environment: Commit to making your work environment even more positive by celebrating successes, consistently providing rewards and recognition, and offering social events that promote team building for both in-office and hybrid work teams.
Conclusion
Many of us have heard the expression, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” Summer is a perfect time to prioritize filling up your own cup and to encourage and reinforce your employees to do the same. Self-care is not selfish. It powers us to begin that sprint to the second half of the year from a position of strength instead of burnout.
Enjoy your summer! And check out more tips for managing burnout in our latest 2023 Talent Magazine.