53% of Millennial staff have missed work due to burnout

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With organisations getting leaner and workloads getting heavier, today, burnout - a sense of chronic physical and mental exhaustion – is a global phenomenon.

Earlier this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified burnout as an occupational phenomenon - a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.

According to WHO, the syndrome is characterised by three dimensions: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one's job; and reduced professional efficacy.

Now that Millennials are well into adulthood, it's no surprise that they too are experiencing the effects of burnout.

In fact, a recent survey by Yellowbrick found that the occupational phenomenon affects the daily lives of 96% of Millennials. For instance:

• 78% say burnout has prevented them from socialising.
• More than half (53%) have missed work due to burnout.
• 32% have not paid bills due to burnout.
• 24% didn't vote due to burnout.

Polling 2,059 Millennials between the ages of 23-38, it further reveals 75% of them experience mental exhaustion weekly or more. Another 80% experience physical exhaustion weekly or more.

Other findings include:

• Among those who take drugs to cope with burnout, 68% used marijuana.
• 48% considered themselves a workaholic.
• About three in five (61%) felt pressured to work longer or overtime hours.
• 45% worried they could lose their job at any moment.
• A majority of Millennials (63%) felt pressured to find of have the "perfect job".
• 62% were pressured to always be accessible (through email, slack, or other means).
• More than two thirds (68%) felt they suffer from "workism" or only identifying themselves through their jobs.
• A quarter of them worked off the clock more than once a week.
• 29% felt overworked at their jobs daily.
• 54% worked more than one job.
• 56% felt burned out from working multiple jobs/side hustle.

Infographic / Yellowbrick