We have suffered from staff burnout in recent years. What are some strategies you have used to help prevent burning out employees on the job?
"Over the last ten years, a lot of workforce changes have taken place, and organizations that have been unwilling to make changes in their staffing and HR policies have faced extreme burnout. Adding the recent pandemic to that, stress levels are at an all-time high for workers everywhere. Because full-time employees spend so much of their waking hours on the job, wellbeing in the workplace is vital. I help promote wellbeing in the workplace by focusing on several elements of wellbeing. The social aspect of the workplace is important, and I like to hold social activities for staff to get to know each other on a personal level. Financial wellbeing is vital for any person, and I've provided financial resources to staff and financial perks for great performers. Physical wellbeing is vitally important as well, and I've promoted this through healthy eating and exercise challenges with staff."
Study after study has proven that work is a key source of stress for many people. A heightened amount of employee stress can bear an extreme financial burden on employers with turnover, absenteeism, lowered productivity, and workers' compensation claims. In asking this question, your interviewer is looking to hear your experiences and overall philosophies in helping to prevent burnout and stress among staff to ensure a healthy, happy, and productive workforce in their organization. As you answer, try to be creative in your answer by talking about unique techniques you are familiar with that help promote a stress-free workplace. Don't hesitate to talk about new trends in employment like teleworking options and how they are positively impacting workforces throughout the world.
"First and foremost, I am confident that the monitoring of workloads and department scheduling is crucial in preventing staff burnout. In my current role, I work closely with managers and department supervisors to coach them in monitoring staff through frequent one-on-one meetings. This effort allows staff to openly discuss happenings in their work so managers can evaluate and reassign work if needed. I also keep a very open-door policy for staff to come directly to me with any issues impacting their stress on the job. Another important factor in preventing burnout is encouraging staff to use their vacation time. I have heard employees way too many times speak to how taking paid time away from work often creates more work and stress when they return. Being a believer that time away from work is important, I have worked closely with leaders and staff to ensure that proper coverage is provided when a staff member is out of the office."
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