...Stress and Burnout OMM 634 April 28, 2014 In the last few decades there has been extensive research on worker burnout and the things that contribute to it. If it’s reached the level where workers are feeling burned out the problems have gone on for quite to long. Burnout is the combination of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by a prolonged stress in the workplace. Stress can lead to several different bad side effects, not only does it affect the worker it can have a strong impact on the workplace. The feeling of stress is normal and a part of life but when it prolonged it can affect health, moral and professional relationships in the workplace. Since stress is mostly connected to negative things, it’s important that organizations develop positive environments and outlets to manage stress in the workplace and in personal lives. Stress is just a part of life and there is no way to avoid it from entering your life. Burnout builds gradually, manifesting itself in symptoms such as irritability, discouragement, entrapment, and resentment (Dessler, 2011). It can be set off at anytime by anything especially when you work in a stressful environment. I just recently separated from the military for the very reason that my job became to stressful. It wasn’t just one aspect of stress it was mental, physical, and emotional stress that was just too much over a long period of time. The mental stress came from being in hostile environments and not knowing if you where going...
Words: 1185 - Pages: 5
...STRESS AND BURNOUT I was deployed for the first time in Iraq with the First Cavalry Division. Upon completion of our first ten months of service in theater of the Diyahla Province we received a letter from the Department of Defense that our orders were changed from a twelve month tour of duty to a fifteen month tour of duty. My demeanor and morale completely changed. After working long strenuous hours defending the Iraqi people and our brothers and sisters in arms from terroristic attacks, this news of an extended deployment pushed my stress level through the roof. I did not know where I was going to find the courage and the intestinal fortitude to keep pressing on, but I knew that I had to dig deep and find it somewhere. My superiors knew that it was going to be an uphill battle to keep soldiers mentally and physically focused during our extended tour of duty. They began to split us up into smaller teams during patrols to ensure that we spent shorter hours out on patrol and that we had more time to relax in between patrols. This helped soldiers manage their time better and to more time to rest and relax. WORK-LIFE CONFLICT The demands of being a Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Army can be very challenging. You have a strenuous training regimen to keep up with but also you have up to ten to fifteen individual soldiers to mentor and supervise. This puts a strain on your lifestyle because soldiers train to complete a task not to a specific time. ...
Words: 396 - Pages: 2
...Burnout Stress Syndrome in Indian Business Process Outsourcing Industry Kenan Besirevic Georgia College and State University Abstract Business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in India is an ever growing giant in the Information Technology Enabled Services Industry. Sengupta et al, (2012) study shows the industries growth and progression, some fifty percent per year is superior to any other industry in terms of job creation. However, even after such growth and promising future, the industry is facing constant attrition. Attrition is mainly brought upon the industry by its own business practices. Indian BPO industry if facing attrition from its workforce and others who see the industries practices as ones that are altering the culture and taking advantage of thousands of young workers. Young workers, eager to get a BPO job transition from high school straight to the outsourcing industry forgoing college education. The industry mainly serves Western customers and thus requires its workforce to assimilate to their culture in other to better serve them. Many Indians are forced to mask their natural accents and adapt a locational presence, and even use a western name. Such demands have created a sense of shame to be identified with Indian culture for many BPO workers. Aside from cultural and traditional complexities many BPO industries nature of work is unethical and stressful. Many young workers who are fighting to get ahead are finding themselves eating and breathing their jobs...
Words: 2923 - Pages: 12
...Running head: STRESS REDUCTION 1 Reducing Stress to Avoid Nursing Burnout Ashley A. Dean University of Louisiana at Lafayette STRESS REDUCTION 2 Stress Stress is our body’s reaction to a stimulus that triggers our primal “fight or flight” response. This response causes a hormonal dump of adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream that enables our bodies to react quickly to perceived danger. These hormones cause us to become more aware of our surroundings and able to make quick decisions and movements. This “acute-stress” reaction is a good thing but continued or chronic stress over long periods of time can cause detrimental effects to your body as the body never returns to homeostasis. Chronic high levels of cortisol and other corticoids can cause a decline of your immune system, making you more susceptible to illnesses. Additionally, they increase your body’s resistance to adrenaline that is also at higher levels under chronic stress (Bryant). If we do not reduce stress then there is a very great danger of becoming burned out. First described in the 1970s by the American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger as the consequences of severe stress and high ideals experienced by people working in “helping” professions (Informed Health Online. (2013). Burnout is a special kind of job related chronic stress that results in a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion where you derive little or no enjoyment in your career and begin to doubt your ...
Words: 1720 - Pages: 7
...Problems of Stress and Burnout for Employees and Employers Introduction Work-related stress and burnout turn into a more widespread problem in the American workforce. Both employees and employers face problems when dealing with this issue. Our book defines burnout as a special type of job stress; a state of physical, emotional or mental exhaustion combined with doubts about your competence and the value of your work (Dressler, 2011). Stress is much more then just a specific situation though. Stress basically is a responsive reaction of an individual to a particular situation. This is why stress is usually difficult to cope with because every person reacts differently to a certain situation. Overwork, job insecurity, and other numerous factors have a negative effect on a person. Distress is produced, and an employee physiologically and psychologically deviates in her or his experiences in comparison to healthy functioning (Sandon, 2006). Stress and burnout are some unnecessary pressures at work can not only be detrimental to the well being of an employee but also affect the company in negative way. Causes of Stress and Burnout in the Workplace While mild stress can be beneficial to a person, providing stimulus and challenge. Stress becomes health threatening only when individuals feel unable to cope with demands expected from them. There is a clear difference between stress and burnout. Stress causes lots of anxiety and stirs up many emotions, while those suffering from...
Words: 1246 - Pages: 5
...Tyler Anderson Dr. Kirk Exercise Physiology Sunday, December 4, 2011 Moderate-Intensity Exercise and its Reduction of Chronic Stress Burnout in College Women who Perform no Regular Physical Activity Introduction: If you were to go out and ask 12 random people on the street what their definition of stress was, you would more than likely get 12 different answers. This is due to the fact that there is not a definition of stress that everyone can agree on. In 1936, Hans Selye coined the term stress, defining it as “the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change” (“Stress, Definition”). Stress can cause a multitude of cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral effects on the human body: memory problems, depression or general unhappiness, chest pain and rapid heartbeat, procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities. One of the most common activities utilized to reduce stress is aerobic exercise. Exercise increases blood flow that will bring additional nutrients and oxygen to the brain to allow for better cognitive function. Exercise will also release endorphins that can give the individual a feeling of happiness and positively affect your sense of well-being. The transition from a high school to a college environment can place substantial demand of change on the body. Students go from living in the comfort of their homes to the cramped space of a dorm room. Students will also experience demands of having a load and level of homework they are...
Words: 2455 - Pages: 10
...Causes and Prevention of Burnout in Human Services Staff Paper University of Phoenix Angela Arington April 30, 2014 Burnout, in the human services field, can be a common factor among employees. To reduce employee burnout it is important to look at contributing factors causing employee burnout to find methods of prevention. Reaction and responses to high-stress conditions from a personal perspective will follow, while providing useful methods into how as a human service professional, I can reduce the effects of burnout. Burnout is defined as a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that comes from prolonged emotional stressors, interpersonal stressors, and workplace stressors. Burnout can happen when being involved with people in high stress jobs, and emotionally demanding situations (Lewis, 2007). Three factors to consider when identifying burnout are emotional exhaustion, a sense of depersonalization, and a feeling of low personal accomplishment with clients. The feeling of being overwhelmed can become present when trying to meet the constant demands as a human service professional. The causes of burnout can vary individually, culturally, organizationally, supervisory, and through social supports. Individuals with Type A personalities, uncompromising management philosophies, the lack of motivation from employees, the absence of participative decision making, and policies created by the organization that go against employees’ cultural beliefs create...
Words: 1015 - Pages: 5
...cause and prevention of burnout The human service field can be stressful for the professionals and wreck havoc to the organization. Burnout affects the employees as well as the organization; an organization suffers from burnout by having high turnover rates, accidents, and so on. This paper will define burnout and describe some of the individual, cultural, organizational, and social support factors that cause burnout. The paper provides an explanation of various individual, job role, and organizational methods to prevent burnout. In this paper I have shared the ways I react and respond to personal and work related stress as well as my reaction to combat the effects of burnout. Lastly this paper discussed how human service managers assist with staff burnout. Define Burnout According to help guide (2012,” Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed and unable to meet constant demands”. As the stress continues it causes you to lose interest or motivation I your work role. Individual, Cultural, Organizational, Supervisory, & Social Support Causes of Burnout Human service professionals may become overwhelmed and stressed especially when dealing with large case loads, overtime, and balancing work and home duties. Some of the personal lifestyle stressors include insufficient sleep, little or no time off, lack of social supports, and so on. Cultural factors contributing...
Words: 844 - Pages: 4
...complex nature of the concept, work or job stress, it appears a daunting task reaching a unified definition of work stress because of the acknowledged fact that a singular approach may not be able to encompass the breadth of the phenomenon. Stress also comes in the form of burnout. The burnout phase can begin at the point of psychological strain in response to chronic work stress. (Greenhaus 263) Burnout is a psychological strain in response to chronic work stress. Although initially it was thought that burnout was primarily associated with jobs with a high degree of human interaction, such as those in the social services and health care sectors, it is now recognized that burnout is more widespread and can appear in many occupations and industries. Burnout has been likened to job depression since emotional exhaustion is a symptom. Burnout has also been considered a problem of motivation because individuals suffering from this condition exhibit low engagement in their job. This essay will look at some of the major components of stress and burnout, as it relates to career management. I researched two articles found in the business source database, and my goal is to discuss some of the industry expert’s thoughts, opinions, as well as ways to cope and handle these emotional defeats of one’s career. This article explains the process up until when an employee reaches the phase of burnout. The authors examined the pattern of burnout change over time depending on career transition...
Words: 658 - Pages: 3
...Causes and Prevention of Burnout in Human Services Staff Jennifer Ishida BSHS/462 University of Phoenix October 31, 2011 David Worsely Causes and Prevention of Burnout in Human Services Staff Many individuals in the human services field got into that type work because they enjoy helping others. Workers suffer burnout more than those who can separate personal feelings and work. This paper will review what burnout really is based on the description given by Maslach and Leiter, it will also describe different causes of burnout and ways to prevent it. This paper also examines the authors personality and how she reacts to personal or work-related stress. She will provide some insights into how to reduce the effects of burnout. This paper will also review what to do as a human service manager to be alert to help staff with his or her burnout. Burnout Burnout is physical and emotional exhaustion, involving the development of negative self-concept, negative job attitudes, and a loss of concern and feelings for clients (Bbnet, 1995). Burnout spreads over time, putting people into a situation that is not easy to recover from; an individual becomes chronically exhausted, cynical, and detached from his or her work and he or she begins to think he or she is ineffective while at work (Maslach & Leiter, 1997). High stress jobs are demanding and are cause for higher rates of burnout among others. When employees become burnt out he or she begins to lose sight of how...
Words: 1083 - Pages: 5
...Causes and Prevention of Burnout in Human Services Staff Kristina M. Murkowski University of Phoenix BSHS/432 Melinda Barker, May 9, 2011 Causes and Prevention of Burnout in Human Services Staff Burnout has been seen more and more among human services staff. Many individuals in the human services field got into that type work because they enjoy helping others, but in the same breath are more likely to become emotionally involved and there for suffer burnout more then those who can separate personal feelings and work. This paper discusses what burnout really is based on the description given by Maslach and Leiter. Further more, the paper goes into describing different causes of burnout and ways to prevent it. This paper also examines the writers own personality while sharing personal reactions to work-related stress. Lastly, the paper talks about be alert and assisting with potential staff burnout. What is Burnout Burnout is a syndrome of physical and emotional exhaustion, involving the development of negative self-concept, negative job attitudes, and a loss of concern and feelings for clients (Bbnet, 1995). Burnout spreads gradually and continuously over time, putting people into a downward spiral from which it is hard to recover; you become chronically exhausted; you become cynical and detached from your work; and you feel increasingly ineffective on the job (Maslach & Leiter, 1997). Causes Different industries, whether factory work...
Words: 1067 - Pages: 5
...What is burnout? Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed and unable to meet constant demands. As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest or motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place. Burnout reduces your productivity and saps your energy, leaving you feeling increasingly helpless, hopeless, cynical, and resentful. Eventually, you may feel like you have nothing more to give. Most of us have days when we feel bored, overloaded, or unappreciated; when the dozen balls we keep in the air aren’t noticed, let alone rewarded; when dragging ourselves out of bed requires the determination of Hercules. If you feel like this most of the time, however, you may be flirting with burnout. You may be on the road to burnout if: Every day is a bad day. Caring about your work or home life seems like a total waste of energy. You’re exhausted all the time. The majority of your day is spent on tasks you find either mind-numbingly dull or overwhelming. You feel like nothing you do makes a difference or is appreciated. The negative effects of burnout spill over into every area of life—including your home and social life. Burnout can also cause long-term changes to your body that make you vulnerable to illnesses like colds and flu. Because of its many consequences, it’s important to deal with burnout right away. Dealing with Burnout: The "Three...
Words: 1836 - Pages: 8
...Causes and Prevention of Burnout in Human Services Ashley James BSHS/462 January 28, 2013 Linda Latson Causes and Prevention of Burnout in Human Services Burnout is a serious problem that mostly occurs in high stress level jobs. Burnouts are very popular in the Human Services field since it contains a lot of high intensity jobs. The definition of burnout, what causes burnout, burnout prevention, personal reactions and responses to high-stress situations, and ways to reduce personal and work-related burnout will be discussed in this paper. Ideas of how to respond and react to employee burnout as a human services manager will follow. Burnout is the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest. This includes physical, mental, or emotional, that an individual experiences when under extreme stress. Burnout can be split into three major features which include emotional exhaustion, feelings of decreased successful outcomes with clients, and increased feelings of being de-sensitized to the needs of clients (Lewis, Packard, & Lewis, 2007). How pressure is dealt with depends on how much stress an individual feels. It also depends on how close the individual is to burnout. An individual experience a little stress and may not be able to handle it well and experience burnout, a posed to another individual who may experience a lot of stress and may be able to deal with it and avoid burnout. Drained appearance and fatigue may be signs of Burnout has many causes which may...
Words: 803 - Pages: 4
...Causes and Prevention of Burnout in Human Services Burnout There may be several causes or reasons that play a role in an individual who becomes overly exhausted. Dynamics of this condition may be characteristics in the home life, personal life, or in the employment arena. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines burnout as “Exhaustion of physical or emotional strengths or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration” (Merriam-Dictionary, 2011). Describe individual, cultural, organizational, supervisory, and social support factors that cause burnout Individual factors Burnout in an individual can happen at different times to different people. A few factors that can contribute to burnout are a person’s upbringing, expectations, or personalities. One of the worst insults to believe would be to think you are useless and lesser than others. An individual can put too much on him or herself by setting unrealistic career goals and without any sense of direction disturbed emotions evolve, and increased tendency to think negatively increase. As a result they start to become the person others want him or her to be. Cultural An example of cultural burnout could be moving into an unfamiliar culture. Different cultures might not understand the cultural differences of certain communities. Developing skills to adapt to someone else’s customs can be challenging and stressful. The perceptions of others play a vital role for many, especially when we experience...
Words: 1084 - Pages: 5
...Running Head: Burnout 1. Burnout Kayla Casey BSHS: 462 Jamie Laurson Burnout 2. Burnout is an issue that a person sees in a stressful job such as a job in the human service fields. In this paper you will understand the factors of burnout as well as methods that can prevent burnout. Burnout can be physical, mental, or emotional problem that an employee can experience when under stress at their job (Lewis, Packard, & Lewis, 2007). This does not just go for the employee but this can also been seen in the supervisors, managers, and owners. There are behavioral signs and symptoms of burnout. There are some physical signs that you can look for such as the person looking drained, fatigued, physical complaints, and frequent absences (Smith, Jaffe-Gill, Segal, & Segal, 2008). Some emotional signs that a person may notice are helplesness, decreased satisfications, feeling of failure, and detachment (Smith, Jaffe-Gill, Segal, & Segal, 2008). Behavioral signs that a person may notice are isolation, use of food and or drugs, procrastination, abusing alcohol to cope with work, and increased absences (Smith, Jaffe-Gill, Segal, & Segal, 2008). When one is showing signs of burnout out this may be because of lack of social support, cultural...
Words: 1061 - Pages: 5
