“I’m already used to life after the pandemic,” many say to themselves, perhaps many a year and a half later. But is that so? “Burnout” continues to spread among employees after a long period of anxiety and isolation. 44%) say they feel “burnt out” compared to a year ago, according to a new survey of 2,800 employees worldwide by international recruitment firm Robert Half, an increase of 34% compared to a similar survey in 2020.
Almost half of employees who experience mental overload blame their condition for the greater amount of work.
In addition to the problem, a fourth employee states that he did not take advantage of his paid annual leave last year. Almost a quarter (24%) say that even if they take leave, they check their work obligations from time to time.
Why it matters
The companies that face mental health problems in the workplace will be the ones to win the talent race.
“There is now a shortage of talent everywhere,” Chris Swift, chief executive of The Hartford, a financial services and insurance company, told Axios. She adds that it is the mental health problems of employees that are a major factor in this shortage.
The fourth wave of the Delta variant of the virus erased people’s hopes that in the autumn the world will return to normal life and even showed that coexistence with the virus will probably continue for a long time. Data on the effects of the pandemic on people in the United States are worrying – drug overdose deaths have risen by 30% to nearly 100,000, most of them with opiates, according to Bloomberg. Deaths and drug addicts contribute to labor shortages. Now, in many countries, anti-epidemic measures are returning and people are starting their isolation again in the name of health. It is the task of governments and businesses to provide citizens and employees with the necessary conditions to lead a prosperous life in an ongoing pandemic situation.
In Bulgaria, the situation is no more rosy, although there are no specific national statistics. The National Health Strategy 2021-2030 states that “the use of drugs and psychotropic substances continues to maintain high levels.” In May 2020, the WHO presented its study among 45 countries, in which Bulgarian children aged 11, 13 and 15 were ranked among the first places in the use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and early sexual life. If the negative trend continues, the future labor force of the country will be vulnerable and for its successful career development will need help – both from relatives and employers.
How employers can help
Employers can help by providing resources such as mental health days and online therapy sessions. But middle management also has a key role to play, experts say.
Managers need to communicate regularly with employees and take personal responsibility for creating an environment in which employees feel comfortable discussing personal issues, write Kelly Greenwood and Natasha Kroll of the NGO Mental Share Workplace NGO Harvard Business Review. .
However,…
Providing help to employees is not such an easy task. 72% of employers in the United States say that stigmas related to mental health and addictions prevent employees from seeking help, according to a study by The Hartford. But the more we talk about these issues, the faster the stigma disappears, says Chris Swift.
What’s up
When employees switch to telecommuting or hybrid work, it will be even more important for managers to check their mental state on a regular basis, says Brian Hancock, who heads McKinsey’s Global Talent Practice.
Without touching on “uncomfortable” and personal issues, team relationships will only be based on work-related conversations. This was not the case before the crisis. Managers will now need to consciously schedule meetings with employees to know how they feel and what they need to improve their condition.
