Cures for Employee Burnout: Practical Steps to Take

Employee Burnout is Rising — Cures for Employee Burnout for Leaders
Sometimes it feels impossible to keep pace with the demands of work. That creeping exhaustion, frustration, and sense of overwhelm is what we call employee burnout — and it’s becoming increasingly common. Data from organizational culture assessments confirm a worrying trend: burnout is on the rise, affecting productivity, engagement, and overall organizational health.

Recognizing the Warning Signs
The leading cause of burnout in the U.S. is chronic job pressure combined with excessive workload. Leaders need to be vigilant for these key warning signs in their teams:

• Employees feel “on call” 24/7, with little separation between work and life.
• Workloads are perceived as unfair, unreasonable, or unmanageable.
• Individuals lack autonomy in deciding how to approach their tasks.

If these behaviors are widespread, the stage is set for significant burnout, and intervention is critical.

The High Cost of Burnout
Harvard research estimates that employee burnout costs U.S. businesses up to $190 billion annually — a figure that doesn’t even capture the toll on employees’ physical and psychological well-being. For leaders committed to high engagement and performance, addressing burnout isn’t optional; it’s a strategic imperative

Diagnosing the Scope
The first step in addressing employee burnout is measurement. Leaders must understand where and how burnout is occurring. Implementing a time-tracking system or workload audit allows employees and managers to see how time is being spent, uncovering inefficiencies, unnecessary tasks, and opportunities for reprioritization. This data-driven approach lays the foundation for meaningful change.

Practical Remedies for Employee Burnout
Burnout often stems from a lack of skills to:

• Prioritize effectively
• Manage time strategically
• Say “no” when necessary

Compounding the problem, most employees navigate a constant flood of emails, messages, unnecessary meetings, and office distractions. Without guidance, they struggle to focus on tasks that truly matter. Leaders play a key role in helping teams filter noise, concentrate on high-impact work, and regain a sense of control over their workflow

Systemic Remedies for Employee Burnout

• Strategy Level
  Clarify strategic priorities so employees can align their daily work with overarching goals.
• Culture Level
  Create a culture where employees feel empowered to ask questions, seek guidance, and receive support in prioritizing efforts across projects, programs, and portfolios.
• Talent Level
  Mitigating burnout begins with understanding the sources of stress and equipping employees with skills to manage their time and prioritize tasks effectively.

The Bottom Line
Addressing employee burnout is not just a wellness initiative — it’s a performance strategy. By combining measurement, skills development, and cultural alignment, leaders can reduce burnout and foster sustained engagement and productivity.

If you want to learn more about the cures for employee burnout and research-backed ways to improve employee engagement, download The Top 10 Most Powerful Ways to Boost Engagement