The great burnout: 50% of workers feel exhausted on the job

Staff burnout is common in the aged care sector, but new research from the University of Melbourne has discovered it’s not an isolated phenomenon, with half of Australia’s workers experiencing a ‘great burnout’ since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Researchers from the Work Futures Hallmark Research Initiative (WFHRI) surveyed 1400 people from a broad spectrum of fields and the 2023 State of the Future of Work revealed that 50% of workers between 18-54 are exhausted at work.

In an opening statement penned by the three WFHRI Directors – David Bissell, Brendan Churchill and Leah Ruppanner – the report identifies an ageing population, a larger number of mature-aged workers, more caregiving demands and workplace discrimination as major future challenges. 

Many, if not all, of those factors are ever-present in aged care.

But the burden and ongoing toll of COVID-19 has also played a part, with 40% of those surveyed feeling less motivated than they were before the pandemic began, while 33% struggle to concentrate at work due to worries from external factors such as caring for loved ones.

“The pandemic, particularly lockdowns, took a significant toll on the mental health of the Australian workforce. Although we’ve been desperately waiting for life to return to “normal”, pandemic-related disruptions remain,” Leah Ruppanner, WFHRI Co-Director, said. 

“Our previous research during the pandemic showed women and parents were particularly vulnerable. 

“We found mothers stepped into the added childcare and housework driven by pandemic lockdowns. We discovered fathers also did more housework and child care over the first year of the pandemic.

“The consequence of all of this added work was poorer mental health – worse sleep, less calm, more anxiety.”

Meanwhile, approximately one-third of Australia’s workforce is contemplating quitting their jobs, which is why it’s important to recognise burnout within your own organisation. 

If burnt-out employees are struggling to meet the demands of their home life while dealing with workplace pressures above and beyond their usual call of duty, you will see poor staff retention and absenteeism that results in skill shortages and workforce gaps.

Flexible work options are viewed as one of the top solutions for burnout, as 75% of workers said a lack of flexible work options motivated them to leave or look for work elsewhere.

which is often the strength of the aged care sector. Many workers are able to take advantage of casual or part-time employment to suit their caregiving needs. 

Themes to underpin the future of work

As part of the research, the WFHRI identified four critical themes that will underpin the future of work: unsafe, unwell, uncertain and opportunity.

Their survey found that many Australians feel as though their work and workplaces are unsafe and are sites of discrimination for women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, caregivers and even workers living with chronic health conditions.

With many individuals working harder and feeling regular exhaustion, they’re also feeling more unwell. Signs of poor physical and mental health are not uncommon, especially among young and middle-aged workers. 

Both male and female caregivers also reported feeling more exhausted stressed, and mentally fatigued compared to their non-caregiving colleagues. With common themes of uncertainty and stress, employers need to recognise what causes stress in aged care to ensure you can minimise the impact and provide support when workers are burnt out.

Technology’s impact on industry remains confusing for some, as workers reported feeling uncertain about how technological changes could impact their jobs. 

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Workers believe there is a greater opportunity to be supported so they can feel more satisfied at work thanks to flexible workplaces and work practices. 

The report even recommended the creation of policies that better support schedule control to allow greater flexibility for workers, plus the identification of where AI and automation can help to reduce routine and difficult tasks.