How to Prevent Employee Burnout: 5 Proven Strategies to Boost Retention and Morale

Food For Thought
Jul 21
8 min read

Understanding how to prevent employee burnout is essential for maintaining a productive and happy workforce.

According to research from Gallup, low employee engagement — a common trait of burnout — cost the global economy $438 billion in 2024. Lost productivity, reduced workload and missed workdays all add up. Luckily, a few techniques can help your human resources department create a more positive, fun and calming workplace. Since high workplace stress is the major contributor to burnout, reducing stress is key to keeping employees happy and focused.

Do you want to learn the best ways to prevent employee burnout? Read on for more on the signs and causes, plus the best preventive measures to keep burnout at bay.

Diving Deep: What Is Employee Burnout and How Does It Affect Your Organization?

Employee burnout stems from chronic workplace-related stress. Burnout was first defined in the 1970s as a state of exhaustion resulting from extreme job demands. Today, it's acknowledged as a pervasive occupational difficulty, which means it's very prevalent and deeply ingrained within a work environment. While burnout significantly impacts individual employees, it also affects companies as a whole and can have a lasting impact on morale and productivity.

Signs of Employee Burnout

Workplace burnout can affect team members' physical health, which has a ripple effect on productivity and goal success. Leading scientific research compiled by the American Psychological Association has found that employees with workplace burnout may also experience:

A 40% increased risk of hypertension.
A 180% increased risk of developing depressive disorders.
A 57% increased risk of workplace absence for longer than two weeks.
An 84% increased risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Employee burnout is more than the occasional irritation or a low mood. It leaves employees feeling completely exhausted and cynical toward work. In addition to negatively impacting the lives of team members, burnout can negatively affect a business's bottom line and lead to poor retention and low morale. Recognizing the signs of employee burnout early can help mitigate its effects.

Causes and Cures of Employee Burnout

Around 83% of United States workers experience work-related stress, and high stress levels are the root of employee burnout. When workers are extremely stressed, remaining focused can be difficult, so mistakes and reduced effort can become more frequent.

Everyone gets stressed out sometimes, but what causes employee burnout? Here are the top stress-related burnout causes:

Workload: Feeling overworked can cause symptoms of burnout, such as negative feelings toward work.
Perceived lack of control: Micromanagement can lead to burnout symptoms like reduced sense of professional efficacy.
Lack of recognition: Rewarding employees regularly is essential to maintaining motivation.
Poor relationships: Employees with no space to connect with colleagues may become stressed and withdrawn, potentially leading to burnout.
Mismatched values: Hiring staff whose values don't align with company goals and culture may negatively affect job satisfaction.
Lack of work-life balance: Without a proper work-life balance, employees may experience a lack of energy, leading to burnout.

How to Prevent Employee Burnout: 5 Effective Strategies

A 2024 survey by the National Alliance on Mental Illness found that 52% of employees felt burned out in the past year because of work. Preventing employee burnout is essential because employee well-being is crucial for streamlining operations, boosting positive morale and reducing turnover.

Here's how to avoid employee burnout and protect your greatest investment — your staff.

1. Encourage Work-Life Balance

A good work-life balance means enjoying a fulfilling and satisfying life both in and out of the workplace. Research shows that work-life balance strategies could promote employees' productivity and health.

Here are the best ways to encourage work-life balance and prevent employee burnout:

Flexible work arrangements: Offer flexible hours or hybrid work options so employees can better manage their personal commitments.
Paid time off: Allocate adequate paid time off so employees can make time for personal priorities.
Positive environment: Create a space for open communication, socialization and connection that makes employees feel supported.
Perks: Offer workplace perks like massages, gym discounts or employee meal plans to encourage workers to take care of themselves.

Tip to make workdays a little easier: Offer employees a nutritious breakfast to kick-start their day, promote well-being and save them a little time in the morning. This is a proactive step toward preventing employee burnout.

2. Provide Chances for Relaxation

Pausing throughout the workday can prevent burnout, improve well-being and boost performance. To encourage quick breathers where employees can connect with co-workers or enjoy some time alone, create break areas with delicious snacks and coffee stations.

Tips on how to prevent employee burnout during high-stress weeks: Designated "recharge hours" are excellent for employees working with stressful deadlines. Giving teams structured time for mental breaks helps alleviate stress without causing disruptions in workflow.

HR professionals can also organize wellness workshops to give team members breaks during the day and equip them with stress-reduction and nutrition tips. Food For Thought has worked with companies to create successful wellness day experiences that promote overall health.

3. Build a Positive Work Culture

Around 79% of employees would prefer to work in an environment where they feel valued, even if they would earn less. A positive work culture plays a significant role in reducing employee turnover and preventing burnout.

Positive work environments provide growth opportunities, prioritize compassion and communication, and promote productivity. Try these tips to build a positive work culture:

Promote peer-to-peer recognition: Create platforms for employees to praise one another. Creating an environment of camaraderie rather than competition encourages positive workplace interactions.
Make workspaces comfortable: Build office setups that are ergonomically and aesthetically pleasing. Keep workers nourished with a fully stocked office pantry.
Create a reward system: Recognize employees with trophies, gift baskets and other tokens of accomplishment to improve retention and spread positivity.

Tip for encouraging positive socialization: Cater team meals and encourage team members to eat them together to foster connection.

Research from the Society for Human Resource Management revealed that workers who felt a stronger sense of belonging at their workplace were 2.5 times less likely to experience feelings of burnout. So, when you boost company culture, you may notice higher engagement, increased retention and better collaboration.

4. Promote Open Communication

Employees who experience psychological safety in the work environment are less likely to face burnout or emotional exhaustion. These team members have better job satisfaction and stronger connections with colleagues.

Communication is key to improving psychological safety. An open-door policy allows workers to voice their opinions and create a safe space for those who prefer private settings. Fun team meetings can also help employees who feel stressed at work relax and unwind. These meetings provide the space to reward staff, highlight contributions and have a good time.

Tip to help staff communicate freely: Delicious snacks or meals can help staff de-stress and enjoy these casual team meetings more.

5. Enjoy Workplace Meals Together

Did you know that 64% of employees say that a workplace meal gives them the energy they need to continue their day? Nutritious, well-balanced meals can help prevent fatigue and burnout. A workplace lunch initiative also shows that your company cares about its employees.

Tip to provide memorable and enjoyable meals: Work with an experienced caterer like Food For Thought to create energy-boosting meals that are balanced and delicious to make employees feel valued.

Productivity, engagement and motivation increase when employers prioritize employee health and well-being. Meals also allow workers to relax, socialize, connect and focus on self-care. Consider this example scenario — after a team-wide survey, you see that employees feel their least productive from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays, especially in the summer. You decide to invest in drop-off catering services every Friday from June to August to keep employees engaged and encourage healthy breaks.

Fight Burnout With Stress-Free Lunches From Food For Thought

Learning how to prevent employee burnout can affect a company's bottom line and environment. Nourishing workplace meals can help team members reduce stress, prioritize well-being, relax and form connections. Lunches aren't just about addressing hunger — they also relieve weary spirits, serve as a treat for the senses and strengthen bonds.

At Food For Thought, we create workplace catering solutions that are good for businesses, employees and the planet. Our fresh meals are made from local produce and exciting ingredients that awaken the taste buds. We are committed to providing the best solutions to keep your employees nourished, happy and productive. From coffee kiosks that allow them to connect with co-workers to energy-boosting menus that help them feel refreshed, we are a one-stop solution for corporate meals and events.

Frequently Asked Questions About Employee Burnout

Here is additional information about workplace burnout and how you can help team members overcome it.

1. How Can HR Help With Employee Burnout?

HR teams can implement various strategies to help prevent burnout in the workplace:

Encourage mindfulness practices: Introduce guided meditation, yoga classes or subscriptions to mindfulness apps to help team members manage stress. For example, research by The Ohio State University found that completing a mindfulness course reduced burnout in nurses by 36%.
Create a feedback culture: Establish regular feedback loops where employees can share their thoughts on workload, stress levels and job satisfaction.
Promote healthy lifestyle choices: To encourage staff to prioritize their health, offer incentives for healthy behaviors, such as gym memberships, fitness challenges or nutrition workshops.
Establish clear boundaries: Set clear expectations regarding work hours and availability for the whole company to help employees maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Encourage social connections: Facilitate informal gatherings or social events to help employees build relationships outside of work tasks.
Provide resources for time management: Offer training on time management techniques and tools to help team members prioritize tasks and manage their workloads more effectively.

2. How Can Employees Recognize Their Own Burnout?

Certain signs and symptoms may indicate that team members are experiencing stress or fatigue. Here are some indicators to help them identify burnout early within themselves:

Physical symptoms: Frequent headaches, stomach issues or other unexplained physical ailments can be signs of prolonged stress. Persistent fatigue or low energy levels, even after a good night's sleep, are also strong indicators of burnout setting in.
Emotional changes: Employees may experience irritability, frustration or mood swings. Other symptoms include a sense of hopelessness or doubting one's abilities.
Cognitive signs: If team members have difficulty concentrating, making decisions or remembering tasks, they may be burnt out. They may also feel a lack of creativity or motivation to engage in work-related activities.

3. What Role Does Leadership Play in Preventing Employee Burnout?

Workplace culture starts with leadership. Leaders have the ability to shape and influence employee well-being at work. When leaders set an example by prioritizing their own health and well-being, they encourage employees to do the same.

Leaders can also foster a sense of control and responsibility by giving employees ownership over their work. This can reduce feelings of helplessness associated with burnout. Employees can explore new ideas and solutions without the fear of failure in an environment that encourages creativity and experimentation.

To foster a culture of transparency, leaders can establish regular forums or town hall meetings where employees can voice their concerns, share their experiences and discuss challenges. Promoting collaborative projects and cross-functional teams also helps build relationships and reduce feelings of isolation among employees.

Finally, leaders can schedule one-on-one check-ins with team members to discuss workload, stress levels and project challenges. This proactive step gives you a better idea of what's happening with your team while helping to identify burnout risks early.

4. How Can Team-Building Activities Help in Preventing Employee Burnout?

Team-building activities foster a positive work environment and enhance employee relationships. These activities help prevent employee burnout in the following ways:

Strengthening relationships: Team-building activities encourage employees to interact and collaborate outside of their usual work tasks. They help to build trust and camaraderie among team members.
Boosting morale: Engaging in fun and enjoyable activities can lift spirits and create a sense of belonging, which may counteract feelings of isolation and negativity that contribute to burnout.
A break from routine: Participating in team-building activities offers teams a break from their regular work routine, allowing them to recharge and return to their tasks with renewed energy and focus.
Identifying strengths: These activities often reveal individual strengths within the team. This is a creative strategy to align roles and reduce the likelihood of overwhelming employees with tasks that do not suit their skills.
Building resilience: Some team-building activities can help employees develop resilience by teaching them how to navigate challenges together, which can be beneficial when facing stressful situations at work.

Examples of team-building activities include going to an escape room, playing a round of trivia, attending a cooking class or doing a session of show-and-tell. ages at a corporate event ensures all attendees can find something they enjoy.