Build a Plan to Avoid the Burn of Workplace Burnout

As worklife quotblendingquot becomes more commonplace than worklife balance stereotypes of the amp160quotlazy and entitledquot millennials amp8212 along with other younger workers amp8212 are becoming outdated It seems that in fact the opposite is true According to a study conducted by Project Time Off half of all interviewed millennials wanted to be viewed as workaholics After witnessing the financial crisis of 2008 and entering a rocky job market right out of college it makes sense that younger employees want to be seen as dedicated workers with a passion for their companyThis attitude combined with the ease of communication that technological advances bring is a surefire recipe for workplace burnout The situation is especially problematic in the media and advertising industry where long hours and high pressure to meet client demands are the normA Gallup survey from last year discovered that seven in 10 millennials are experiencing the insomnia increased depression and anxiety and reduced immunity to illnesses that come with burnout This is a situation that needs to be remedied Doing so will help prevent the decreased productivity and increased turnover rates that accompany the exhaustion of overworked employeesHere are three primary causes of workplace burnout and recommended solutions for eachMore hours mean more stressIn the media and advertising industry workdays tend to run long to meet client needs and tackle looming deadlines A recent survey by Digiday found a direct correlation between mental health and the amount of hours employees work every week While 40 percent of participants working 5059 hours a week felt concern for their mental health only 27 percent of agency employees who work 4049 hours felt they were at risk For millennial perfectionists who often feel guilty for clocking out on time working excessive hours can lead to exhaustion decreased productivity and eventually seeking out less intense work environmentsIn an industry where long hours are a fact of life it39s essential to find ways for employees to unplug That may include simple perks such as working remotely and flexible hours that can help to create a balanceBetter technology means anywhere can be a workspaceHow often do you pick up your phone upon waking to check work emails Are you inclined to log back in to your work email or other systems after you get home for the day An inability to disconnect from work and the rise of workplace telepressure amp8212 an urgent need to respond swiftly to emails through communication technology amp8212 have become the Achilles heels of younger employeesFor the generation born alongside computers responding to an afterhours email on a mobile phone isn39t always thought of as working The issues arise when these afterhours exchanges leave little room for personal time or lead to obsessing over work amp8212 both of which contribute towards the strain of burnout It39s important to encourage younger employees to unplug and not answer work emails especially if they39re on holiday Set up contingency plans that will minimize the need for additional communications while employees are out of the office This support will help overall workplace productivity upon their returnSalary and benefits impact mental healthCompensation that matches one39s workload can go a long way in helping to prevent unnecessary stress and workplace tensions So it stands to reason that entrylevel salaries weigh heavily on the shoulders of junior employees The Digiday study shows a direct correlation between mental welfare and compensation with 41 percent of agency employees who earn less than 51000 a year stating that they were concerned for their mental wellbeingThis even extends into benefits such as vacation time employees with unlimited vacation time are actually less likely to take paid time off than employees with a limited number of PTO who would rather quotuse it than lose itquot Unlimited vacation time can even spur a negative competitive culture where employees compete to take the least time off leading to feelings of guilt resentment and exhaustion especially among perfectionist millennial employees who don39t want to feel as though they39ve let anyone downIn response to these issues some companies offer adult coloring books meditation rooms VaynerMedia39s Hudson Yards office has one infamously nicknamed the quotcry closetquot and pizza parties in place of more beneficial measures such as taking steps to change their culture These companies are missing the pointIf executives within the media advertising and agency space want to help foster a positive work environment and break the negative cycle of tired overworked employees change is needed This can be as simple as reducing office hours or as complex as finding the right combination of benefits for your teamAll the companysponsored happy hours in the world can39t cure this mental health epidemic It requires leadership to be onboard with enterprisewide amp8212 and perhaps industrywide amp8212 wholesale changeClick the social buttons to share this story with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writers

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Build a Plan to Avoid the Burn of Workplace Burnout

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Hayley Virgil

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Build a Plan to Avoid the Burn of Workplace Burnout

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