Burnout

How it is used

Widely discussed in HR and leadership. The World Health Organization describes burnout as an occupational phenomenon rather than a medical condition. Managers try to spot early signs and prevent burnout; the adjective is burned out or burnt out.

Example sentences

1. After six months of weekend work, half the team was close to burnout.

2. We introduced meeting-free Fridays to reduce the risk of burnout.

Common collocations

• risk of burnout
• prevent burnout
• suffer from burnout
• signs of burnout
• employee burnout

Related terms

• workloadThe amount of work a person or team has to do in a given period, often discussed when it seems too heavy or unevenly shared.
• motivationThe reasons and energy that make a person want to do something and keep doing it, such as interest in the work, recognition, money or a sense of purpose.
• employee engagementHow committed, involved and enthusiastic employees feel about their work and their organisation, which affects how much effort they put in and whether they stay.
• psychological safetyA shared belief within a team that people can speak up, ask questions, admit mistakes or disagree without being punished or embarrassed.
• change fatigueThe tiredness, frustration and loss of interest that employees feel when they face too many changes too quickly, which often makes new changes harder to introduce.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• burnout · Healthcare Management
• burnout · Social Work

More terms: Motivation and Feedback

• feedback
• morale
• constructive feedback
• recognition
• one-on-one
• incentive
• team building