There's a post-pandemic crisis unfurling – and it centres around wellbeing
Employees might be getting more flexible schedules thanks to their employers' efforts and initiatives to make it happen, but that doesn't mean they're immune from the threat of getting burned out.
A new report from Robert Half said that in its latest report, 69% of its respondents have the ability to set their own schedule, but even then, it looks like work-life balance remains a concept for them.
According to the report, 74% of flexible employees are still working more hours than they did before the pandemic, while 60% overall are putting in 40 or more hours a week.
David King, Canadian senior managing director of Robert Half, attributed this to how flexible work arrangements can make an employee having to be available at all times.
This then makes it more challenging for them to disconnect from work, according to King.
"It's important for managers to lead by example and demonstrate a true commitment to work-life balance, including proactively encouraging staff to prioritise personal commitments and take breaks and time off," he suggested.
Employees more burned out than a year ago
Meanwhile, in the same study, it was also revealed that 38%, or four in ten, of respondents are more burned out now than a year ago.
According to the report, those who are more likely to report burnout are:
- Millennial professionals (42%)
- Women (42%)
- Employees who have been with their company for two to four years (42%)
- Professionals based in Calgary (51%) and Vancouver (38%)
Despite this threat of burnout, however, 45% of the respondents said they still feel uneasy about expressing feelings of burnout with their manager.
King commented that this should make employers focus on health and wellness of their teams now more than ever.
"Many Canadian employees are still battling burnout, despite companies' efforts to hire permanent and contract talent to support growing business demands," said King.
"The labour market remains incredibly tight and now, more than ever, managers need to focus on the health and wellness of their teams and take steps to reduce work-related stress," he added.
"This includes scheduling ongoing check-ins, prioritizing critical work and maintaining a culture that encourages employees to share if they are feeling stressed or overwhelmed."