According to the latest Gallup report, 36% of the South African workforce experience excessive daily stress and more than 71% are either disengaged or actively disengaged at work – some of the alarming signs of burnout. This is not surprising considering that according to the Mental State of the World Report, Mental State of the World Report, South Africa ranks 69 out of 71 countries and has the greatest percentage of distressed or struggling respondents at 35%. Studies have found the dedicated and committed are particularly prone to burnout – a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress.
The condition is classified as an occupational phenomenon by the World Health Organization for its debilitating impact on productivity, bottom-line and the overall health of especially, top achievers. A study revealed most feel companies aren’t doing enough to prevent burnout; two-thirds have experienced it. Prof Renata Schoeman, Head of Healthcare Leadership at Stellenbosch Business School says burnout is a workplace phenomenon that cannot be confused by daily stressors of everyday personal life responsibilities.
“Burnout is a persistent feeling of physical and emotional exhaustion that frequently comes with pessimism and disengagement from work. The culprits are usually an imbalance of resources and/or demands on what is expected of you at work versus the availability of time, finances, training, support systems, mentorship .