We have all likely read about the many ways in which the pandemic has impacted people, and an increase in job burnout is one that seems to keep coming up.
While burnout is a problem for both employers and employees in every business sector, there is added concern in the construction field because a drop in worker safety is often one of the severe consequences.
As you may know, burnout is the result of someone’s attempt to cope with overwhelming and prolonged stress or discontentment – it’s like burning a candle at both ends, and, as noted above, the impact can be devastating on both employees and employers.
Common effects include:
• Increases in job site accidents and injuries
• Greater absenteeism
• Drops in employee morale
• A variety of health problems
Taking this perspective a step further, there is a related malady called “safety” burnout.
Job burnout and safety burnout are closely related, and both are equally important. If an employee is burned out with their job it will affect most every aspect of their work and those around them.
Fortunately, there are warning signs:
- Complacency is a significant indicator of safety burnout, and an injury or accident could be imminent. Do employees ever say, “We’ve always done it this way” or “That’s close enough?”
- Breaking the rules is another sign to watch out for. Do people often say, “The boss isn’t around to see” or “We were just kidding around”? If so, management must reinforce the fact that rules need to be followed all the time (no matter who is/isn’t around); management must also take corrective actions in response to safety infractions.
- Employees’ moods and attitudes can be a big indicator of burnout, so attention should be paid to them both. Do certain team members seem disengaged, unmotivated or express a negative and critical attitude at work? Have other employees complained about certain co-workers or voiced concerns