Workplace Burnout : How An Office Space Can Influence It
The global issue of workplace burnout is widely discussed.
Regardless of the country and size of the business, this phenomenon has impacted everyone.
Studies have identified several reasons for this syndrome, such as poor organisational policies, work framework, unrealistic targets, and internal politics.
This article focuses on a core contributor to workplace burnout, which is none other than the office space.
Reports indicate that the office atmosphere plays a significant role in contributing to workplace burnout.
Let’s discuss in detail.
The Serious Concern
Workplace burnout is a syndrome accumulated by constant work space stress which is not being taken care of. It can be internal or external factors. In 2019 WHO declared it as an occupational phenomenon and reported to have more studies on this. Almost all organisations and employees have faced workplace burnout once in their career. It’s a serious issue concerning mental well being of employees and overall productivity of the organisation.
Symptoms of Workplace Burnout
Gradually impacting an organisation, every underlying issue starts affecting itself with slight symptoms in the initial stages.
Despite these early warning signs, concerned individuals often neglect the issue, considering it as minor.
Consequently, these disregarded issues culminate and contribute to workplace burnout.
Transitioning from neglect to proactive prevention, it is essential to recognize and address these issues promptly.
Unusual trends in the workplace serve as indicators, prompting the need to examine and correct them.
Here are some major symptoms that signify potential workplace burnout.
Continuous Decline In Productivity
The first indication of burnout is a frequent decline in the company’s overall productivity.
Subsequently, delays in work submission or a gradual deterioration in service quality become noticeable. Initially, a warning or disciplinary action may provide a temporary solution.
However, over time, the recurrence of the same issues becomes apparent.
At this point, the company must promptly recognize a probable defect in its operations that requires immediate correction to make workplace more productive.
Rise in Employee Turnover
Higher turnover serves as another crucial indicator of workplace burnout.
As a significant number of employees resign from the organisation over time, it signals an unfavourable work culture within the company.
Employees, unable to perceive any career advancement opportunities in their tenure with the company, decide to leave.
However, a low turnover rate is normal in every company, but a gradual increase in the number requires a proper internal audit highlighting the HR department.
Negative Customer Feedback
Getting continuous negative feedback from customers regarding the quality of service is a significant indicator of burnout within a company.
This negative feedback results from the company providing poor service.
It is crucial to address the dip in quality immediately, as it has been consistently maintained.
Delay in taking corrective action will lead to irreversible damage to the goodwill of the company.
Shift in Officevibe
The once pleasant and vibrant workplace atmosphere has turned gloomy, clearly indicating an underlying negative issue.
As a result, the overall vibe of the office will be down.
While no one will purposefully create this situation, the mood of individuals will be affected, ultimately ruining the previously positive atmosphere.
Declining Profit Graph
The balance sheet of the company stands out as the most effective workplace indicator.
Unlike other indicators that may necessitate time and a thorough study for comprehension, this one demands no explanation.
The company’s poor working conditions are unmistakably signalled by the decline in profit.
To identify weak points, a prudent company owner will conduct an audit of all internal factors.
Impact of Workplace Burnout On Employees
The biggest asset of any company is its human resources.
All the goals of the company are achieved through the effort of its workforce.
However, Employees are the biggest victims of workplace burnout.
They are the key indicators of any serious underlying situations in the company.
The following are the most common impacts of Workplace Burnout on Employees.
Exhausted Due to Work Overload
A workplace burnout will create friction among employers and employees.
Due to increased turnover the workload for existing workers will be increased. When all the work piles up without any relief the employee will feel exhausted causing physical and mental strain.
Frequently Avoiding Work
Due to pressure in the workplace employees may feel uninspired to present for a job or fall sick. This leads to higher absenteeism in the company. He gets so frustrated with his work that he avoids the work, not bothering about the loss of pay.
Mistakes Becomes Frequent
Workplace burnout negatively affects employees, leading to demotivation and disconnection from their responsibilities. Consequently, they commit mistakes more frequently
Disrupting Work Life Balance
Workplace burnout, causing employees to experience stress and lose control over time management, ultimately leads to a breakdown in work-life balance, resulting in their inability to spend time with their family.
Physical and Mental Trauma
Prolonged work stress can ultimately weaken an employee’s physical and mental health. The accumulation of workplace burnout elevates stress levels among employees. This leads to depression and increases the possibility of diabetes and cardiac diseases. Continuous neglect of these issues may prove fatal for them.
Probable Reasons
We have discussed the symptoms and impact of Workplace Burnout. Now let’s delve into probable reasons for this phenomenon.
- Company Policy
- Toxic Work Culture
- Unrealistic Deadlines
- Poor Delegation of Work
- Lack Of Support and Training
- Internal Office Politics
All these reasons are internal.
It requires a detailed study and corrective measures to correct them.
But the most crucial reason contributing to workplace burnout is office space.
It’s an external factor compared to other reasons. However, it is easy to detect and costly to correct.
How Office Space Influence Workplace Burnout.
1. Inadequate Space for Work
Insufficient workspace can lead to irritability and stress among employees, significantly affecting their productivity.
Collaborative efforts are hampered, and employees struggle to find a conducive environment to destress.
2. Disruptive Atmosphere
A crowded and closed atmosphere not only disrupts the workflow with noise but also contributes to mental stress and insomnia among employees.
Prolonged exposure to such conditions ultimately results in workplace burnout.
3. Poor Air Quality
An office with an inadequate ventilation system creates air quality issues, causing severe mental and physical health problems.
Poor air quality, primarily affecting focus, can lead to personality disorders and psychological issues, contributing to workplace burnout.
4. Accessing Natural Light
Working in a confined space, especially on computers, can induce mental health problems over time.
Access to natural light in the workspace is crucial.
Studies prove that working under natural light enhances productivity and reduces stress levels, emphasising the need for a sustainable workspace.
5. Unsafe Work Environment
An unsafe office space triggers serious mental disruptions, diminishing the quality of work and damaging the company’s reputation.
Having an office space in a safe location is essential to maintaining a healthy work environment.
6. Lack Of Transportation
Difficulties in reaching the office due to insufficient transportation options can lead to employee stress from long and inconvenient commutes. Placing the office in a well-connected location with available transportation can alleviate this source of stress for employees.
The Cost Of Ignorance
The insufficiency of office space can adversely affect a company, necessitating a careful evaluation of various factors when selecting a suitable workspace.
Unfortunately, many companies predominantly prioritise cost, overlooking other crucial considerations.
While cost is undeniably significant, it should not overshadow the fair consideration of other pertinent factors.
An error in workspace selection can result in significant financial losses for the company.
Despite the inconvenience and expenses associated with terminating a lease contract, companies often hesitate to shift to alternative locations.
This reluctance contributes to severe workplace burnout, ultimately translating into losses for the company.
Therefore, a comprehensive and forward-thinking approach is imperative when deciding on office space.
The Corrective Action for Workplace Burnout
Choosing an ideal office space poses a challenge for the company.
However, overcoming conventional concepts of office space is crucial.
Transitioning to the world of coworking space is the solution.
At GreenNest, we offer a sustainable coworking space for planting your business.
We furnish workspaces with the latest amenities in attractive packages.
Create a checklist for the requirements of an ideal office space, and GreenNest’s facilities will check all the boxes.
