A few years before COVID, I burnt out. It's common with high school teachers, overloaded with work and feeling pressure to get results, and the added politics (in my case, horrendous management and work place bullying) and admin required to perform the demanding job of educating teenagers. One morning, I woke up and simply could not get out of bed. My mind had broken. I couldn't string a sentence together. Work were helpful in getting me back on a reduced load until I was ready, gave me some time off, and even provided a counsellor (which was useless). Workplaces can be good when people break, but often do not provide the supportive environment in the first place that would retain good workplace morale and stronger retention rates of teachers - a huge problem in Australia right now.
I felt embarrassed about my collapse. In a culture that has traditionally suggested mental health is a fragility and a weakness, I had been maintaining the illusion of control to myself and others for years. One does not say no to increasingly workloads, especially if one is 'lucky enough' to have a good job and fears losing it. High performers are more likely to break, having high expectations of themselves (hands up, me) and add to that an 'always on' culture, poor management making jobs harder for the individual, and a whole range of personal stressors, I was bound to collapse eventually. It took years to feel okay about what happened. I felt like it took years to get my mojo back, and to be honest, I don't think it has ever come back.
Reflecting now on that time, I know I wasn't weak - I'd just been too strong for too long in a work culture that kept pushing and not supporting me in ways that would have made me even better than I was.
My personal experience of course colours any argument that suggests burnout is less about workload and more about personal mindset or personal failings.
Burnout is far more nuanced than that.
First of all, it's important to challenge the idea that burnout is about personal weakness. It's not 'the generation of today' and young people unable to rise to the challenge. It's not about people who fail to adapt or can't identify their own stress. There's decades of research in psychology and occupational health within organisations that suggests this argument doesn't hold up - burnout is a recognised occupational hazard, and nothing to do with weakness of the individual or a personal mental condition or problem. Arising from poorly managed chronic workplace stress that includes cynicism, reduced professional efficiency, and emotional exhaustion, it's more about ongoing and peristant pressure in the workplace, particularly those that expect or demand overwork and seem to set boundarires - even if underhand and subtle, like not allowing leave, or expecting one answer emails 24/7, or not allowing workers to go out to get lunch or coffee in town on their lunchbreak.
To say it's the worker's fault ignores the very definition of what burnout is.
To suggest people lean into burnout as an excuse for not handling work stressors is actually a really serious undermining of known consequences that come from the workplace and systemic issues within it.
It's also important to remember that 'percieved' and 'actual' workload is the same thing. In other words, the individual response to workload is valid. There's real research that shows that without solid resources to support the worker as well as the unsustainability of pointless, poorly managed and repetitive tasks (oh god, all of those pointless meetings that could be in emails!) or failing to set expectations (for example, you are not expected to answer emails between 5pm and 8 am).
I was a high performer that was dedicated to education - I felt passionate about it, I loved my career, and thrived off supporting students. No one praised me for that, but they certainly would jump in when their expecations weren't met. We had a principal who berated the entire English department for their results, not taking into account the general work ethic, learning difficulties and so on of the entire year level. Add to that constant reporting, frequent parent teacher interviews (little Johnny's Dad couldn't make the interview set aside for 3 pm Tuesday - could he book in for 5.30 pm on Friday?) and bullying within the department (underhand, gaslighting, and general bitchiness) and even the most steely of workers would be feeling the stress.
The idea that the worker fails because they have the inability to manage stress or cope with the work environment completely ignores individual diversity. People have different limits and abilities - that is not a failing. We're human, all with different genetics, life contexts, health status, trauma background, support systems. Workplaces are increasingly made to consider this by law - and are becoming more adaptive and flexible to maintain valuable diversity and retention in their institutions. People are not automatons. We are not numbers, or chattel, or slaves just because we recieved a paycheck. If employees expect unfailing uniform performance, they also fail to ignore that people also need a sense of purpose, safety, and rest to perfom well for the company.
It's really good to see that accomodations are made for people who might be struggling, because it shows that systemic systems are being modified and improved to support workers because that is good as a whole for the company. A happy worker is a good worker. Go research this. It's true.
I was also really irritated (to put it mildly) to read this comment this week. I've edited it slightly for readability and I don't want to personally attack the author, only the entrenched attitude:
I'd never heard the word 'burnout' from my father or in my own working life - it's a new thing from Gen X and Gen Z because of their lifestyle. Our elders lead a tougher life than them and they never complained and just did the job. The new generations have it easy and just want fun instead of responsiblity.
This suggests that people in the past were more noble, more heroic, stronger. What a load of bollocks. Workers in previous generations did burn out, but it wasn't named, and they certainly wouldn't have felt safe talking about their mental health. Tell me about the alcoholism, the life expectancy, the regret, the illness, the effect on families. Tell me about how truly happy they were, and whether you truly could know that.
And don't get me started on how hard I see Gen X'ers and Gen Y working.
We don't live in the past - the pace of change in working life is well documented. We now have digital overload, an always on culture, threats to our economic safety (especially with AI coming in hot). Then there's also remote work isolation, constant restructuring in workplaces, and the gig economy This is unprecendented and even your hard assed Grandfather and worked for forty years as an accountant in the same job and that fought two wars would be unable to handle it.
It's categorically daft to compare one generation to another.
@tarazkp's argument this week that support is strategic and necessary, however, is absolutely bang on. We absolutely need supportive work environments, but not because it's the worker's fault, but because toxic work environments exist. Companies that support their workers aren't indulging or molly coddling weaklings - they're being smart. Safe workplaces are investments - they help worker retention by building morale and they help people innovate and excel in jobs they feel good about.
The idea that people need to be tough and take a good hard look at themselves is ignorant. It ignores that we need support be resilient - it's not just flexing muscles and being tough in super hard work environments.
If I'd returned to the same conditions, I would have burn out again. Sadly nothing really changed in the workplace and it was me that was forced to go part time and then leave teaching altogether - which every person who knew me and knew what kind of teacher was thought was a loss to the profession. In fact, workplace bullying made my job worse, taking away a role that I'd been in for eight years and was excellent at and passionate and expert within, and giving it to the head of departments friend to 'ease their load' whilst at the same time making mine harder - all for taking owed long service leave.
You can't expect people to man up, skill up, courage up, resilience up in workplaces that don't look at their own structural issues. I felt like I was drowning and the school wouldn't switch the hose off.
I don't think it's useful to suggest that burnout is the workloads fault, but in the same breath say that people need to change themselves to deal with it, and then again say that people need a supportive environment. Which is it? If coaching and other strategies provided by the organisation prevent people burning out, then obviously it was the environment that was to blame in the first place.
I know it's because of what happened to me, and others I know (when you start these conversations, it's amazing how many people come out and say 'me too') that I feel so strongly about systemic change in workplaces, and even stronger about any comment that burnout is a character issue.
Of course we have to assess both the individual and the organistion - but we can't say that personal responsiblity is the only issue as that's it's utterly dismissive of the damage that can be caused by particular work systems that are poorly designed, unempathetic, and often brutal.
With Love,
Are you on HIVE yet? Earn for writing! Referral link for FREE account here
For the entirety of human history people have been claiming that younger generations are too soft or weak... the writings of the ancient Greeks include text saying this exact thing. People just love to put on their rose-tinted glasses, put on their survivor-bias and day dream that they were tougher.
There are people that feel like they were abused, so it's only fair that everyone else also go through that abuse, and there are people that feel like they were abused and then try to improve the world so no one else have go through that abuse ever again.
Resilience comes from support. If workplaces want to lower their turnover and training costs then they'll appropriately manage workload, culture and other stressors. Management's job isn't to extract as much as possible from their workers, it's to sustainably empower their workers to be as productive as possible.
Nailed it. We are definitely on the same page.
This. Yes. Leave the kids alone. I don't know anybody that can't hack the work, but what they ARE doing is making change. Why SHOULD they put up with the shit the generation before did?
Exactly. And there's a LOT of research that backs this up. Thanks for the support. I know I don't have uo have people agree with me, but I found myself passionate enough to write my pov.
Perhaps I'm more of a socialist or idealist than an individualist. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I definitely don't subscribe to the view that you cant blame business for exploiting workers for profit. There's certainly tons of businesses doing better for being better.
Absolutely. There is so much that businesses can do to prevent or reduce burnout in their employees, my current company offers:
There's probably a bunch of other things I'm not even aware of. They are a capitalist company, but they realize that staff are more productive when they aren't suffering from burnout. They also seem to understand that rehiring and training people is way more expensive than just keeping the people they have.
It makes economic sense for companies to take responsibility to prevent burnout and it's hard to imagine why people would think it's purely individual weakness.... which is a little insulting given how many commenters, including myself, here have suffered burnout already.
See, that's an example of HOOD capitalism - it doesn't HAVE to be evil. And you're more likely to want to put in the effort and be loyal if you're treated like human beings.
It sure is. And it's the same issue I had when I experienced burnout. .. I wasn't listened to. It's not at all to do with pandering to people or having people take advantage of the employers good will!
View or trade
LOHtokens.@riverflows, You have received 1.0000 LOH for posting to Ladies of Hive.
We believe that you should be rewarded for the time and effort spent in creating articles. The goal is to encourage token holders to accumulate and hodl LOH tokens over a long period of time.
Thanks xxx 🌸🌷
A few years ago we've had here the case of a young woman working for one of those fancy multinational companies who simply dropped dead at the office. It emerged that the poor woman was severely overworked and under a tremendous stress, which, of course, lead to commentaries about toxic corporate culture, but I don't expect much has changed.
As for the education system, there's very little respect for teachers. In fact, teachers here are picketing the government building, following the a recent decision to increase the number of weekly teaching hours, increase the number of students per class, and some pay cuts as a bonus. And, as you say, people cannot afford to say no, especially now that the economic situation here is bad and getting worse by the week. It is basically impossible to say No when you cannot afford to lose your job.
Oh! This happens so much in Japan and Korea - even people who do "hardcore" gaming sessions can have it happen to them.
The corporate world is a race to the bottom.
I read something today and I've forgotten the exact words, but it was something like - a business is only viable because its profit margins can support its inefficiencies.
Inefficiency, in my view, is what brings about burnout - the repetitious frustration of an unimproved process - documented well by employees, but with no action by the business, leads to an ever-cascading frustration, anger, and ultimately, ... burn out.
I think the only thing that has really "changed" at least in the Australian market is that there are "mental health first aid" courses that some businesses claim staff members are trained in, and of course, the Employee Assistance Programs, which provide "free" access to counsellors and psychs at some workplaces.
I had to google this "mental health first aid" concept. I was amused to discover that it's focused on increased productivity, reducing employee turnover, reducing leaves of absence... not much about the employee who is struggling... I wonder how many people dare to speak about their mental issues when it's obvious the HR will hear you're struggling - obviously you're not going to get a promotion implying more responsibilities since you cannot handle those you already have, and you might find yourself unemployed rather soon.
Of course not, its another way for business to feel good about itself and some despicable niche hunter to make a dishonest buck.
Never about addressing the root cause.
That's exactly what I was worried about! And it was one of the straws that broke me.
Where do you live? Ah, Romania. I don't know much about the education system there but I'm on the teachers side.
There was an education research guy who said class size didn't matter. Tell that to the teachers marking papers, dealing with parents and managing behavior... mind-blowing. As if teachers arent doing 60 hours weeks as it is. 8 to 5 and work at home and on wkds.... And worse for new graduates who don't have the tricks of trade to survive.
And that's people in charge of looking after and essentially raises your kids. You definitely need to make them happier!
I just don't believe the working culture needs to be like this. The product of a capitalist, individualistic society I guess. We can do better.
Burnout, Setback are really not weakness..
The system is similar with Working out
We need to sleep (rest from stress) in order to built muscle
Same with life i guess we need to setback and break from burnout to be fresh and stronger.
!LOLZ !ALIVE
lolztoken.com
In the Stu-Stu-Studio
Credit: reddit
@riverflows, I sent you an $LOLZ on behalf of arveno
(2/10)
That's a good comparison. Why can't companies see that?
Soon
It is just few new startup company that humanize human in their company.
But the old company still using old rules that not humanize human.
The only thing that changes in a burnout rich environment is the workload when you go back. it's a bigger pile to deal with when you take that "mental health day" to recover.
It doesn't matter if the root cause isn't addressed.
When I refer to root cause, I don't just refer to the perhaps insurmountable task of an enormous class size, or needing to mark the work of multiple classes to "calibrate" across hallways and homegroups, but the underlying societal root causes that cause people to just not be able to cope with the environment in which they are placed.
Burnout is rarely a single root cause issue. In my mind (and I know very little about psychology, or perhaps my own metal limits and boundaries) - it must be a camel bearing a bunch of straw, then along comes a little spider (straw) - and ... it collapses in a heap.
I have probably "had" burnout as some point in my professional career. I didn't have it treated. I took the macho strong thing and "pushed on" - ultimately, that wasn't healthy, and it took a long time for it to come to the fore - when I had an annual review with a manager.
They asked "what was your biggest achievement this year?" and I almost broke down, my response was "the fact that I'm still here", and that single sentence lead to a change in circumstances to a new team environment where I could flourish, and I felt genuinely valued for my contributions, even if I was able to take a voluntary (via opt-out) redundancy shortly thereafter.
In seven days, it will be four months since the last day I had at my job, and it has really only been in the last few weeks that I have felt "prepared" to tackle new work, in spite of numerous job applications and interviews.
I'm ready, because I have renewed focus, and new goals, that will prevent future burnout. I have also learned to have my own boundaries, to seperate time into segments, and to value things like friendship, health, and everything else that brings me joy in balance.
And balance is the most important thing in the world.
Or you know, hope for a workplace with a good mental health focus where they give you pizza for morning tea.
I don't know how teachers do it in this day and age. I know the teachers here in the US have issues. This is a generalization, not all fall into this category, but more and more are (and teachers I know say it is the majority now), but parents are not teaching their children to behave. They give them video games and and phones and anything else, but don't give them what they really need - time and discipline.
Teachers don't have authority to discipline, either. If they have a meeting with a parent about the behavior of their child, the parent (not plural, on purpose, because so many live with a single parent) says that their child would never do anything like that.
I remember when I was in school, the teacher ruled (and the principal did if it was really bad). If we misbehaved in class, the parents (plural, because most families had both parents there) believed the teacher.
We had a genuine fear of getting caught doing something wrong.
I know children who brag about how much trouble they get into at school. They say that all it does is get them out of "boring class." Many can barely read or do simple math. They are preparing them for an adult life of living off the government or a minimum wage job (which are getting fewer and fewer).
It's no wonder teachers burn out, quit, or retire early.
Yes all that! Teachers definitely don't have much authority and parents always believe the kid. Ice had some horrible situations where a parent would be shouting at me after the kid outright lied and I said as much.
Luckily I worked in non government schools that were a bit easier behavior wise and I could actually teach with an academic focus. I'm not sure if survive in a state school these days. Most of the time the kids are gorgeous. I love teaching students, it's all the other stuff I hate. But I'm definitely done now - I won't ever go back. I'd rather pack shelves in a supermarket.