Over recent months, people in the US have been resigning from their places of employment. True, many have done so in reaction to the COVID-19 vaccination requirements. However, there is another side to this phenomenon—people have been loaded with additional work and can’t cope, leading to burnout.
Research on burnout shows that workload, the perceived lack of control and recognition, poor relationships, a lack of fairness, and mismatched values are at the heart of burnout. This blog will focus on regaining power and easing your workload so you can function better.
Remember, “If you want to address the burnout problem, the first step is repeating and internalizing this mantra: Burnout is about your organization, not your people,” Jennifer Moss writes.
She adds, “Yoga, vacation time, wellness tech, and meditation apps can help people feel optimized healthier. But suggesting that these tools are the cure is dangerous when it comes to preventing burnout.”
Meet Richard
Meet Richard (not his real name), who resigned after nine-and-a-half years in his job, citing burnout. He purposely gave up a successful career and stable paycheck as he needed a quick break.
His work-life balance had gone completely off track, and he lost himself.
His fellow workers were earning 20% more than he was, making him feel undervalued. Even though he was resourceful and had experience, he was also available when needed.
In reaction, Richard lashed out at his family, accusing them of wasting his time in the mornings − time he wanted to spend sitting at his desk checking his emails. Richard finally accepted that he needed a break − a slowdown was required. Although an uncertain future frightened him, and letting go of the familiar was alarming, Richard believed in himself.
He believed in nurturing himself rather than allowing mental issues to take hold and grow in his life. He knew his decision would haunt him, but he was curious to explore new possibilities.
Richard’s Story Is Not Unique
Instead, many average, hardworking folks that you would never have thought would resign simply because they feel burnt out. Yes, Richard could have gone to his employer with a list of tasks showing what he had been expected to do. He could have laid out the time each task takes for an efficient worker, showing his overload.
However, there could have been one of three reactions: the boss could have understood and looked at finding a solution; the boss could have stated that Richard was still required to cover all the set tasks; or the boss could have been irritated by the interruption of his own time by a seemingly spurious complaint.
Nevertheless, with people leaving their positions and others having to step in to take over their work, the pressure soon mounts.
There Is a Solution – Using Virtual Assistants (Remote Assistants)
Using helpful and friendly virtual assistants does not take over the work; instead, it steps into the breach when necessary. A knowledgeable virtual assistant or online assistant is an online worker who helps on-site staff with their time-consuming and repetitive tasks. For instance, an online worker (executive assistant) can help to manage an employee’s emails quickly.
Time spent poring over emails can be significantly reduced, allowing employees to focus on their work. Alternatively, a virtual assistant can cover data entry or conduct research, which can help the employee with presentations.
Final Notes: Avoid Burnout with Remote Assistants
Companies demand the maximum output from their workers. If one employee leaves, the job that has burned him out will be given to another worker, who may already be working to capacity.
Companies must find ways of improving efficiency quickly in the workplace − having skilled, reliable, highly paid workers do time-consuming work is not an efficient solution. Companies are better advised to engage the services of more affordable, super-flexible remote assistants.
All mundane tasks can be offloaded onto a remote worker, such as a remote personal assistant who adds value to your company without overpricing.
3 Key Takeaways
The three key takeaways of the article are:
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Employee burnout is a serious problem caused by workload, lack of control, and other factors. It can lead to employees quitting their jobs, even successful ones like Richard in the article.
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Focusing on individual wellness solutions like yoga or meditation isn’t enough to address burnout. The problem lies with the organization and its workload distribution.
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Virtual assistants can be a solution to burnout. Virtual assistants can free up employees’ time and reduce their workload by taking over repetitive tasks like email management, data entry, or research. This can help companies avoid burnout and improve overall efficiency.