Happy New Year from Homethrive! 

Although 2022 allowed the world to adapt to the ‘new normal’ way of living post pandemic, one thing still hasn’t changed: we’re seeing increased burnout rates across teams as we enter 2023. But what can we do to combat this growing trend? 

Harvard Business Review reports that in May of 2022, Google searches for “burnout symptoms” hit an all-time high. Though not surprising (considering that 2022 was marked by continued COVID-19 anxiety, piping hot geo-political tensions, and sky-high inflation), this fact is still alarming. 

So, what can employers do to reduce burnout levels? First, it’s important to understand what causes burnout to happen in the first place. According to UC Berkeley’s Christina Maslach, there are six factors that allow burnout to flourish in the workplace: 

• Unsustainable workloads
• Perceived lack of control
• Insufficient rewards for effort 
• Lack of a supportive community
• Lack of fairness
• Mismatched values and skills

In 2023, employers will need to pull all levers possible to reduce the intensity and breadth of burnout across these six factors outlined above. This is critical in order to reduce attrition rates, recruit top talent, and create a culture of care that fosters employee loyalty and productivity. Perhaps a good place to start could be focusing on the fourth bullet, creating a more supportive, open, and non-judgmental community. 

If your organization isn’t currently focusing on supporting your workforce through competitive compensation, wellness-focused benefits (such as caregiving benefits), and regular conversations about well-being, it’s time to begin. 

This is a new year and a fresh start! Seize this opportunity to breathe new ideas and life into your organization’s culture and offerings. 

We’d love to partner with your organization to provide (much needed) well-being support. To learn more about supporting family caregivers, check out more resources on our website. If you’d like to receive insights delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our weekly newsletter!