How to Prevent End-of-Year Burnout: 7 Steps for Employers

Quick look: Many people feel stressed during the holiday season, and it’s easy to understand why. Deadlines and holiday plans loom, which can lead to end-of-year burnout that impacts the health of individual employees and the success of their employers. Here’s a look at employee burnout defined, signs to watch for, and how a professional employer organization (PEO) can equip small businesses with the tools and benefits they need to encourage wellness year-round.

The end of the year is often filled with professional pressures and personal obligations, from project wrap-ups to holiday planning. For some employees, this combination of stressors can lead to burnout.

Ultimately, end-of-year burnout can decrease employee morale, productivity, and well-being, hindering overall organizational success. However, there are steps employers can take to mitigate this exhaustion and improve workforce wellness year-round.

Below, discover what burnout is, its impact on businesses, and strategies to prevent it—during the busy final months of the year and well into the future.

What is employee burnout?

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” Unfortunately, this experience is common, with the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) reporting that 44% of employees feel burned out from their work. SHRM also found that burned-out workers are almost three times more likely to actively search for another role, demonstrating that businesses can reduce turnover and boost employee engagement by addressing this issue.

Burnout often peaks during the final months of the year, a trend reflected in recent American Heart Association survey results:

• Over half of Americans claim it takes weeks to feel less stressed after the holidays.
• 64% said the holiday season is more stressful than tax season.
• Nearly 80% report that they are so focused on creating special memories for others that they neglect their own needs during the holidays.

5 signs of employee burnout

So, what does workplace burnout look like? Five major symptoms exist:

1. Reduced productivity and work quality: Those feeling burned out often struggle to focus, meet deadlines, and maintain their standard performance level.
2. Increased absenteeism: Research has shown that individuals experiencing burnout are over three times more likely to be absent from work.
3. Emotional exhaustion: Burned-out employees typically feel drained, overwhelmed, and detached from their assignments and colleagues.
4. Physical discomfort: Burnout can have physical manifestations, including headaches, fatigue, back pain, and more.
5. Negative disposition: The condition can make workers irritable, frustrated, and cynical.

How to prevent employee burnout: tips for business leaders

Burnout can have a substantial negative impact on businesses, but there are tangible steps organizations can take to help avoid it:

Provide flexibility

Life is busy both in and out of the office. Offering remote or hybrid schedules, or flex hours, if applicable, can cultivate year-round well-being. After all, end-of-year burnout often doesn’t begin in winter; it can be a steady build that peaks during the holidays.

Encourage time off

Pew Research reports that 46% of American workers don’t use all of their paid time off (PTO). This time can provide many employees a much-needed break, but they may need encouragement to request it, as Pew found that many feel bad about leaving work for others or fear losing their jobs. Managers can show support by urging their teams to use their available PTO and by taking time off themselves.

Reprioritize non-urgent assignments

Some tasks cannot wait until after the holidays—but many can. Business leaders should review their list of projects and set deadlines for the new year, if possible.

Show gratitude

Taking the time to thank your staff during the holiday season (and throughout the year) can have a tremendous positive effect. In fact, employee recognition can lead to increased employee engagement, reduced turnover, and boosted productivity.

Foster open communication

A workplace where people feel comfortable discussing a range of topics is conducive to employee well-being and engagement. For instance, workers who feel trusted and supported by their manager are over three times more engaged. Additionally, managers can set a restful example by openly talking about the importance of taking time off, recharging, and self-care.

Offer the right employee benefits

Comprehensive employee benefit plans can fight burnout during the entire year. Health insurance that includes mental health coverage and access to an employee assistance program (EAP) that offers various free, confidential resources is a great place to start. Employer-provided gym membership subsidies can also provide a continuous wellness boost.

Partner with a PEO

Small businesses are focused on growth, which naturally sometimes leads to stress. While often manageable, this tension can become burnout at the end of the year when professional and personal obligations increase.

While the right policies and employee benefits can combat employee burnout, small business leaders may lack the time and resources to implement them. That’s where a professional employer organization (PEO) can prove helpful.

PEOs are a type of human resource (HR) outsourcing firm that specialize in helping businesses manage various aspects of their HR, employee benefits, payroll, risk and compliance, and other employee-related tasks.

ExtensisHR, for example, provides the following wellness-inducing services:

• HR support and guidance in developing flexible work arrangements, open door policies, and more.
• Employee benefits administration and management, including access to a range of Fortune 500-level benefits like EAPs, mental health coverage, and gym membership subsidies (optional as part of our PEO Premier® offering)
• A mobile-friendly HR platform where employees can easily request PTO
• Affordable access to 15five, an industry-leading employee engagement and recognition tool.

End-of-year employee burnout can hinder personal and organizational success, but there are steps business leaders can take to minimize it. By recognizing the signs, addressing the root causes, and fostering a workplace culture that values recognition and open communication, both employees and organizations can thrive year-round.

Is your workforce feeling stressed this holiday season? ExtensisHR is here to help. Browse our PEO solution, or contact our experts today to learn more.