Burnout can be costly to both the health & wellbeing of your employees’ and your teams' productivity. If you have lone workers in your team they are more susceptible to burnout as they work in isolation and in potentially hazardous or dangerous situations. Here we discuss what burnout is, the common symptoms, why lone workers are more likely to suffer from burnout and ways you can help prevent burnout amongst your lone workers.
What is burnout?
Burnout is a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. It is usually the result of long-term stress and pressure. Unlike stress, which is short-term, burnout is usually characterised by feeling so demotivated and detached that it affects the ability to function on a daily basis. Most people associate the cause of burnout to workplace demands & pressures, however it can also happen alongside other excessive pressures and responsibilities such as caregiving or parenting.
What are the symptoms of burnout?
The symptoms of burnout are usually a combination of physical, emotional and behavioural signs. The signs of burnout build up over time and can often be attributed to anxiety, depression and stress so sometimes go unnoticed or aren't addressed correctly.
The common physical symptoms of burnout include:
- Severe exhaustion
- Headaches, muscle aches or joint pain
- Frequent illness due to lower immunity
- Feeling sick or loss of appetite
The common emotional symptoms of burnout include:
- Feeling overwhelmed and/or anxious
- Feeling detached and/or demotivated
- Feelings of helplessness or worthlessness
- Loss of interest and enjoyment in things
The common behavioural symptoms of burnout include:
- Difficulty concentrating and taking longer to complete things
- Being irritable and short-tempered
- Becoming isolated and withdrawing from people or responsibilities
- Becoming reliant on food, drugs or alcohol to cope
If ignored the symptoms of burnout can worsen and lead to serious physical or mental health conditions. This is why it is important to recognise the signs and address the route cause as quickly as possible.
Why are lone workers more likely to suffer from burnout?
Lone workers are more likely to suffer from burnout because:
- they feel isolated from their manager and colleagues which can lead to feelings of loneliness and long-term stress.
- they work in hazardous areas or are at risk from people which increases their levels of stress and anxiety.
- they may have a high and demanding workload which they find difficult to address with their manager.
- there is a lack of day-to-day support. With no one to ask for reassurance or backup they may feel constantly worried or anxious.
If you are managing lone workers it is therefore important to remember that working in isolation can really take its toll on your employees. Always keep in mind the signs & symptoms of burnout and if you think someone may be suffering, address this as quickly as possible.
Ways to avoid lone worker burnout
It's important to be proactive and try to prevent lone worker burnout, before it happens. Here are 7 things you can do to avoid lone worker burnout:
1. Keep in touch with your lone workers regularly so that you can recognise signs of stress as early as possible. If contact is poor, they may feel disconnected and more isolated. This can affect their performance, their stress levels and overall mental health.
2. Put emergency procedures in place and train your lone workers in how to use them. This gives them reassurance that they know what to do in the event of an emergency.
3. Ensure they are adequately trained so that they are able to handle uncertain or unexpected situations and they understand the risks involved in their work and how to control them. This will help them to worry less and have better coping mechanisms should these situations arise.
4. Encourage your lone workers to take regular breaks and set clear boundaries for when they will begin work and end work each day. This helps to ensure they are well rested and the lines between their work-life and home-life aren't blurred.
5. Consider implementing a lone worker solution, such as a lone worker app or safety device which gives you visibility of your lone workers in an emergency situation and provides additional peace of mind to your lone workers should the worst happen.
6. Foster a culture of open communication where lone workers feel they can come to you, raise concerns, be taken seriously and offered the right support. This type of culture is vital for ensuring the psychological safety and wellbeing of your lone workers and will reduce feelings of stress & anxiety whilst they are at work.
7. Encourage your lone workers to take their full quota of annual leave to make sure they are well rested and take time to do the things they enjoy doing outside of work. Taking a break is extremely important for their mental health & wellbeing and reduces stress levels.
