Spanish researchers identify three causes of workplace burnout

Extensive studies have shown that a happy, fulfilled, stress-free employee is a productive worker who is loyal to their organization.

Now, researchers at the Aragon Institute of Health Sciences in Spain have identified three factors that often stand in the way of employee wellness.

One type of burnout stems from a staff member being overworked, which the authors defined as working more than 40 hours per week. They referred to this subset as “frenetic.”

The second category they identified the “under-challenged” worker. These employees often have occupations which require them to do tedious, non-stimulating jobs that offer no opportunity for advancement.

According to the authors, employees who are “worn out” are those who have held the same position for a long period of time. As a result, they begin to get lax about their responsibilities and get stuck in a rut due to a lack of recognition from supervisors.

“Having a family, partner or children can act as a protective ‘cushion,’ because when people finish their day at work they leave their workplace worries behind them and focus on other kinds of tasks,” said lead author Jesus Montero-Marin.