Burnout

Burnout is a disorder that develops as a result of prolonged work stress. It is characterised by exhaustion, cynicism and reduced commitment to work. Stress in itself is not harmful, as long as it is possible to recover from it properly. Work-related stress is a human being’s attempt to adapt to strain. In burnout, this adaptation no longer takes place and sufficient recovery becomes impossible. The state of stress is prolonged and leads to burnout.

Stress is typically caused by the requirements of work, such as an excessive amount of work, conflicting or ambiguous roles or targets, lack of opportunities to influence one’s work and lack of social support, perceived unfairness and uncertainty.

Stress can also be caused by the employee’s personal traits, such as the demands they place on themselves or their work and a profound sense of duty. Other sources of stress can be the workplace’s insufficient or harmful means for managing stress, such as not taking breaks at work and continuously working long hours.