Leadership Series

Burnout is no longer seen as just an individual problem—it’s now recognized as a widespread and growing issue that affects employees across industries and has significant consequences for businesses and economies. With the increased demands of modern work, technological advances blurring the line between work and personal life, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout has become a global health crisis. Let’s take a closer look at what research reveals about the prevalence of burnout, the number of people affected, and how it impacts productivity.

No. 1 — How Common is Burnout?

Burnout is alarmingly common in today’s workforce. Studies show that it’s a pervasive issue affecting a significant proportion of employees worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognized burnout as an “occupational phenomenon” in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) in 2019, underscoring the seriousness of the issue. Burnout is described as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed, characterized by three dimensions:

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