Addressing employee burnout is a cultural shift that goes beyond perks

AS WE approach the end of 2023, most companies are planning to implement return-to-office policies. While some are celebrating the return to normalcy, many employees are dragging their feet back to the office having enjoyed the taste of greater autonomy and work-life balance.

In response to this resistance, companies are offering an array of enticing benefits, from catered meals to childcare support and salary increments. However, there may be a deeper issue at  play, one that goes beyond piecemeal gestures and perks – employee burnout. To some, “burnout” feels like a dirty word. Leaders would rather opt for a less damning term such as “stressed out” or “tired”. But like any affliction, we must name it in order to treat it. 

Long working hours and high risk of burnout

Burnout is a pervasive issue in today’s workplace. At one point or other, most of us have felt exhaustion, cynicism and overwork. In a post-pandemic world, it seems these are increasingly becoming less exceptional and more a fact of working life.