Quick Summary
In this blog, you’ll learn what quiet burnout is, why it happens, and the key warning signs to watch for. We cover its impact on health and productivity, and share practical strategies for employees and organizations to prevent it.
What is Quiet burnout (a.k.a. Quiet cracking)?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout is an occupational phenomenon “resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”. It is a set of symptoms that includes fatigue, irritability, nervousness, impatience and increased workplace conflict.
‘Quiet Burnout’ is a term used to describe a situation where individuals suffering from burnout - i.e. poorly managed chronic workplace stress - suppress or ignore the symptoms and continue pushing themselves. This naturally creates a risk of an eventual severe mental health incident. Quiet burnout differs from conventional burnout in that the symptoms are mainly psychological, making it easier to ignore, misattribute and ‘push through’.
Why is quiet burnout important?
It is growing trend- While research is sparse, multiple news sources report a trend of increase in quiet burnout
It creates health issues- Burnout leads to multiple health issues including:
- Clinical Depression
- Elevated Blood Pressure
- Other Cardiovascular Risks
- Weight gain
It impacts work- Burnout directly impacts productivity, quality, absenteeism and creativity negatively
It leads to quiet quitting- Research shows that 35% of quiet quitting (Quitting with no intimation / warning) is attributable to burnout
Help gets delayed- Given the severe effects of burnout, quiet burnout obviously impacts both organizations and individuals severely. The delay in recognizing the problem can make the situation much worse than if addressed early.
Why does quiet burnout happen?
Reasons for burnout:
- Unresolved conflict at the workplace- In values, ways of working, perceived unfairness etc.
- Poor Work-life balance- Too much work, & inability to detach from work
- Lack of empowerment- Inability to influence key aspects of work.
- Communication challenges- Such as ambiguous role definitions & expectations
- Monotony with work
- Unsupportive environment- from Managers & colleagues. Bullying & harassment.
- Lack of appreciation like recognition & rewards
- Perfectionism- Excessively high standards also contribute
- Mental Health Conditions like depression or anxiety
- Other Stressors- On the personal front, health, financial or social
Additional reasons for quiet burnout:
- Helpful Personality- Quiet burnout tends to disproportionately affect people who typically put others’ needs ahead of their own.
- Self Image- Strong self-image leads to ‘putting on a face’ of the person you wish to be seen as - happy, successful etc. - and avoiding the warning signs
- Stigma & Fear- Associated with mental illness
What are the warning signs for quiet burnout?
The symptoms to watch out for are:
- Sensory hypersensitivity- Increased sensitivity to light, touch and noise. Sufferers start avoiding physical proximity with others
- Poor sleep / Lack of sleep is a classic warning sign
- Behavior changes- Acting unusually cynical & sarcastic, having mood swings or overreaction to trivial matters
- Mental Exhaustion- Leading to more mistakes & memory lapses
- Social withdrawal- Withdrawing from social activities, reduced frequency of positive expressions like laughter
What organizations can do to avoid it?
The 4 main things that employers and HR can do to reduce quiet burnout are:
- De-stigmative mental health at the workplace. HR & Leaders need to work together.
- Educate employees on warning signs & encourage them to seek help.
- Access to support- Make access to mental health professionals easy
- Address root causes at the workplace. See ‘Why does it happen”
Overall, Burnout- of both varieties is a real risk to productivity and hurts companies. HRs and leaders definitely need to educate themselves and align resources and corrective steps to reduce its impact.
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