Let AI help you look after the health of your employees, and your business
Employee burnout is the silent killer. As a human resource manager, witnessing the decline of one of your hardest-working employees is heartbreaking. Not too long ago, they were the backbone of the team, enthusiastically bringing innovative ideas to the table, but now they seem to lack the same energy and motivation to perform their duties.
A report from Zippa reveals that 89% of workers have experienced burnout within the past year. Meanwhile, Gallup found burnt-out employees cost $3,400 out of every $10,000 in salary because they are disengaged.
Burnout in the workplace can seriously impact an employee’s mental and physical health and the business’s bottom line. It’s up to HR managers to prevent employee burnout, and thankfully, artificial intelligence (AI) can help HR.
The Negative Impact of Employee Burnout
The most alarming impact of employee burnout is the physical and mental damage on the employee, which will impact them personally.
In a professional capacity, employee burnout can manifest in decreased morale, absenteeism, and high employee turnover. This, in turn, can lead to low productivity and profitability.
Below are some potentially negative impacts of employee burnout on HR managers and businesses:
- Low Morale. Employee burnout can lead to reduced morale among workers as they become increasingly disengaged from work and less motivated to contribute. Low morale will show itself in the employee’s decreased productivity and quality of work, which will harm the company’s profits.
- Increased Absenteeism. Burnout can lead to increased absenteeism due to workers feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope with the demands of their job.
- High Employee Turnover. Employees who are unhappy, overworked, demotivated, and unsupported will likely look elsewhere for a job. Zippia reports that 40% of workers have left their jobs due to burnout.
- Higher Stress Levels. If your employee is struggling under a mountain of work, feels underappreciated, and isn’t able to deliver high-quality work because they’re burnt out, they may feel guilty and stressed. That guilt eats away at them, yet at the same time, they don’t have the energy to rectify the situation. It’s an ugly cycle.
To illustrate the issue, consider that 91% of respondents from a Deloitte survey report that having an unmanageable amount of stress or frustration negatively impacts the quality of their work.
How AI Can Prevent Employee Burnout
AI can provide HR managers with a better understanding of employee burnout risks and the tools to manage those risks proactively. AI can also provide HR managers with insights into the causes of burnout and help them identify potential solutions.
Artificial intelligence can also help identify who is at a higher risk of experiencing severe burnout. This information can aid busy HR teams in prioritising specific teams, offering resources, and monitoring developments for additional intervention.
The ways AI can help prevent employee burnout include the following:
- Provide data-driven insights into employee burnout.
- Identify potential risks and consequences of employee burnout.
- Provide predictive analytics to anticipate and address potential burnout issues before they become problematic.
- Identify and address underlying issues that contribute to employee burnout.
- Develop strategies to create a more positive work environment and foster a culture of engagement and well-being.
- Track and monitor progress on employee burnout initiatives to ensure they are effective.
The Benefits of Using AI to Prevent Employee Burnout
Do you worry that AI could create an environment of over-scrutiny and intrusive monitoring? It’s a genuine concern. However, once you’ve demonstrated the value of integrating AI into your business and your employees’ day-to-day responsibilities, employees can see how it will benefit them and the company.
- Increases Productivity. Artificial intelligence can help HR managers identify early signs of employee burnout, allowing them to take steps to prevent it before it becomes a severe issue. This can increase productivity, as employees are more likely to be motivated and productive when they’re not burnt out.
- Improves Work-Life Balance. Artificial intelligence can analyse employee data and identify trends in the workplace, such as long hours or high-stress levels. With this information, HR managers can take steps to create a better work-life balance for employees.
- Reduces Stress Levels. AI can help identify and address workplace stress sources, such as an overly demanding workload or lack of resources. By reducing these sources of stress, employees can better manage their workload.
- Boosts Morale. With the help of AI, HR managers identify areas where employees may be feeling burned out and then take action to address these issues. This can lead to improved morale in the workplace, as employees feel more supported and appreciated by their managers.
- Increases Engagement. AI can analyse employee data and identify areas where employees are disengaged or motivated. With this information, HR managers can take steps to increase engagement.
- Improves Communication. AI can monitor employee conversations and identify areas managers can improve team communication. This can help HR managers create a more effective communication system in the workplace, which will primarily benefit remote workers who may be feeling lonely and disengaged.
- Better Decision Making. AI can analyse employee data and identify potential solutions to problems that could lead to burnout. This can help HR managers make better decisions.
- Increases Efficiency. AI can automate specific HR tasks, such as scheduling and tracking employee performance, leading to increased efficiency.
- Increases Job Satisfaction. AI can analyse employee data and identify areas where employees may feel unfulfilled or unhappy. With this information, HR managers can take steps to increase job satisfaction.
- Retain employees. Deloitte reveals that almost 50% of millennial survey respondents say they have left a job specifically because they felt burned out. It goes without saying: if you don’t want to lose your high-performing employees, prevent burnout.
As the workplace evolves, HR managers must take the necessary steps to ensure their employees don’t suffer burnout. By embracing AI, HR managers can create a healthier work environment and avoid the costly consequences of employee burnout.
Explore Yooma HR for a simple, effective HR tool you can use in your business. Or reach out to us with your questions as you consider the solution you need.
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