Is ‘burnout’ a badge of honour?

Is ‘burnout’ a badge of honour?

The Cigna 2023 Vitality Study has claimed that 98% of male employees from Generation Z are currently experiencing at least one symptom of burnout; 89% of Millennials and 81% of Generation X.

Around half of the men from the Millennial and Generation Z groups believe their organisation is more interested in productivity than supporting their mental health and wellbeing. ’Always on’ working and presenteeism was found to be common. 87% of Generation Z workers said they had continued to work while unwell.

Burnout dilemma

In response to the figures, mental health campaigners have pointed to the threats from burnout — the risks to men’s mental health over time, and especially those in middle and senior management positions who see themselves as needing to set an example of resilience, as well as being concerned about the impact of admitting any kind of vulnerability on their career.

If more men are willing to acknowledge they might be suffering from burnout, or at least at risk of being negatively impacted by stress and pressure, then it’s a starting point for re-thinking how they are working and building in more time for ‘time out’ and balance.

Busy glamour

EAPA UK chair, Karl Bennett said: “For decades, long hours working in some professions has come with a certain glamour. If you’re always working, always running from one meeting and one call to another, it’s a signal of success, of a dynamic career.

“Even with the new attention being paid to workplace wellbeing, this can still be the case. Which is why it’s important for HR to be wary of claims around burnout. In some instances, claiming to be burnt out can be a badge of honour, something fashionable, or at least something assumed.

“What’s important is that people have the chance to talk through their experiences and their symptoms with an independent professional; they are thinking through a practical response and not make any assumptions about what’s happening to them and potential problems. In other words not encouraging a self-fulfilling cycle of poor mental wellbeing.”