Burnout: The Dirty Truth About How Employers Benefit From It

Forbes ^ | Feb 5, 2025 | Jason Walker

[anthropocene_x]

Today’s workplace thrives on a dangerous myth: burnout is a personal failing. Are you exhausted? Meditate. Overwhelmed? Try a standing desk. Drowning in emails? Manage your time better. Feeling overworked? You take on too much. Don’t believe these master gaslighters—the message from the employer is clear—it’s you, not us—fix it on your own.

But the truth is, burnout is an organizational issue stemming from a culture steeped in unrealistic, toxic high performer expectations and the 'do more with less’ mantra—and employers are more than happy to keep it that way.

Profitability often means squeezing every ounce of productivity out of an employee while minimizing cost and maximizing profit. From a bottom-line perspective, it’s a brilliant model.

If you want to get ahead, you’re taught to go the extra mile, take on more responsibilities, and above all, be a team player. Meanwhile, corporate budgets for recruitment, retention, mental health support, and work-life balance remain razor-thin. Why? Because, you’re filling that void.

Burnout isn’t about your inability to manage stress - it’s about an employer’s failure to create a healthy work environment. Pushing employees to the brink of burnout makes companies richer. Employees on the verge of collapse still tend to get their work done until they quit but if they do leave, they're replaceable.

Remember this: your job will replace you in a week if you burn out, but your body, mind, and relationships won't recover as quickly. Protect yourself because your employer won't.

[proxy_user]

Well, if you are going to work like a maniac, you might as well have your own business and get the benefits of your labor.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Every morning my employer dared us to quit. It was in the everyday policies that got changed from one day to the next. Do it this way then do it that way. The companies bottom line gave them the proof they were doing a good job. The bosses were good at keeping their mouths shut-that’s all.

[MotorCityBuck]

If you don’t like your job find a new one.
Stress is all how you handle it.
Most people can’t.
I’d quit any project that didn’t have stress.
Small rewards for small tasks. No thank you.

[griffin]

Engineering.
Do it the way the manager, bean counter and marketing guy want. Don’t make ANY mistakes, keep it on schedule regardless of the BS we impose on the project, don’t assume any leadership or authority over anything, ask for permission on everything, be a team player and consult with everyone, and keep it under budget....AND NO BUGS!!

[neverevergiveup]

Small rewards for small tasks. No thank you.

Agree, but not small rewards for large tasks - which is what is too often the mantra these days. That's why it's so important to live in a meritocracy.

[Georgia Girl 2]

You are so right. That’s what I did and made more money in my own business than any company ever paid me. Plus I made all the decisions.

[minnesota_bound]

I had managers that would beret you for nothing. My last one ran off most of the dept. Most quit prior to him leaving. I think he was doing this to keep costs down so he got his bonus money.