How to Handle Employees' Remote Work Burnout

If you manage remote workers, it is crucial to take regular pulse checks on their well-being and address any signs of burnout as soon as they appear. If you suspect that your workers are experiencing symptoms of burnout, we are here to help. 

Below, we explore some key symptoms to watch out for, as well as steps you can take to mitigate any burnout-related concerns. 

Employers who believe burnout is only an effect of an in-office working environment are certainly mistaken. In fact, some studies show that the impacts of burnout can be even more severe for someone who works from home than for someone who commutes to an office. 

The symptoms of remote burnout are similar to traditional signs of workplace burnout; however, there are a few unique indicators that separate this overall condition. 

One of the most common complaints of those who experience remote work burnout is that the lines between home and work life become incredibly blurred. It can be challenging to separate work from everyday chores, and this may even hinder an individual's ability to unwind and relax at the end of the day. 

Symptoms of Remote Work Burnout

Remote work burnout is difficult to overcome because it can sneak up on those who become complacent with their daily routines. Here are some of the more common symptoms that someone will experience once they have reached a notable level of burnout.

Physical Symptoms

Fatigue and Low Energy: Starting at a computer screen and sitting down for the majority of the day is generally not a good thing for your health. This lack of movement and elevated screen time will likely impact your employees' ability to get a restful night of sleep, leading to long days of low energy.

Headaches and Migraines: Another negative effect of staring at a screen for long periods of time is the development of eye strain, which can cause severe headaches and migraines. 

Muscle Tension: Work-from-home setups aren’t always the most comfortable. Old office chairs and desks can lead to poor posture and encourage muscle tension, especially in the neck and shoulders after an 8-hour workday. 

Emotional Symptoms

Increased Anxiety and Irritability: Sitting down in front of a computer all day can wreak havoc on your nervous system and kick your fight or flight into high gear. This increase can occur from 

Low Motivation: When a work-from-home employee starts feeling like they are living the same day over and over, you may notice a dip in motivation in an employee who was once full of drive and excitement. 

Behavioral Symptoms

Procrastination: While many remote workers have more time built into their day than traditional in-office workers, they often find that it becomes easier to push important tasks off or to the back burner. Many burnt-out employees struggle to tackle challenging tasks and may even miss deadlines as a result.

Lack of Routine: Developing a routine when you don’t have to physically drive into the office each day can be very challenging for some. Work-from-home employees are responsible for building and sticking to a routine, and some may find this daunting task impossible without someone there to guide them. 

Ignoring Self-Care: Some remote workers lose so much motivation from their jobs that they start to lose motivation for their daily needs as well. Forgetting to eat, skipping workouts, and not taking PTO time are all signs of a heavily burnt-out employee.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Employee Remote Work Burnout?

Taking a closer look, we have found that there are a few main causes that contribute to high levels of burnout in remote workers.

Lack of Structure 

Without having to commute and clock in at the office, it is very hard for some to build a consistent routine for their weekdays. Lack of routine is one of the leading causes of burnout and is difficult to overcome once it has begun.

Lack of Human Interaction

Coworker relationships are critical and are often one of the things remote workers miss most about going into the office.

Lack of Managerial Support

When working from home, many employees often feel like they are on their own island. They may be consistent in completing tasks and fulfilling their job duties, but without the support of a manager or higher authority, their efforts may feel useless and unappreciated.

5 Strategies to Handle Employees' Remote Work Burnout

If you feel like your employees are showing signs of burnout, don’t panic. There are plenty of things that you can do to alleviate these negative symptoms and encourage positive change for your remote workers. 

Encourage Team Member Interaction 

As mentioned above, human interaction and connection with coworkers are some of the things people miss most about working in the office. While you may not be able to schedule a team lunch or outing, you can absolutely encourage other forms of interaction in a remote setting. 

A highly recommended tip is to schedule a monthly or bi-monthly casual team meeting. In this meeting, try to leave work out of it and instead focus on building relationships with your employees and encouraging them to interact with their peers. You can plan a few icebreakers or even some fun games to get the conversation started. 

While these meetings may feel a bit uncomfortable at first, they will pave the way for your team members to get to know each other and hopefully help them feel like they are part of something bigger than just staring at their computer screens all day.

Reward a Job Well Done

All employees like to know that they are valued and appreciated in the workplace. As a manager, it is your duty to recognize and reward a job well done, even if you don’t have the chance to do it in a face-to-face setting. 

Set up an “achievements” message board in your online communication platform, or send out a weekly email highlighting the efforts of an employee. These little rewards go a long way and can absolutely help boost morale for your employees. 

Hold Office Hours or Weekly Syncs 

Scheduling one-on-one time with your remote workers is key to spotting early signs of burnout and to developing a solid relationship with your employees. 

If your schedule allows it, try to set up a recurring meeting with each of your employees to quickly touch base throughout the week. This will allow your employees to voice any concerns or highlight any wins, and will give you a good idea as to how they are feeling while working from home. 

If scheduling weekly meetings is too challenging, consider hosting “office hours” and allowing your employees a chance to meet with you for a quick call to discuss whatever they may need.

Set Clear Work-Life Boundaries 

This is probably the most important tip we can give to you. While you may have set working hours, some remote workers have a very hard time logging off at the end of the night. With no commute home, it can be easy to fall into the “I’ll just answer this last email” trap each evening.

As a manager, it is your job to reduce stress for your employees where you can. To do this, you should absolutely encourage and set clear boundaries for your employees. Let them know that putting in additional time or staying late each day is counterproductive and should not be a regular thing. 

Hold your employees accountable and ensure they make time for themselves outside of work by setting clear start and end times for the workweek.

Pay Attention to Signs of Burnout

At the end of the day, it is nearly impossible to avoid some levels of burnout in the workplace. As a manager, it is your responsibility to pay close attention and recognize any warning signs before they develop into something more. 

With the strategies listed above, you should be well-equipped to notice if employee burnout is developing, and we encourage you to be proactive in addressing these concerns. Keeping an open and honest line of communication with your employees is a surefire way to keep your workers happy, healthy, and ready to deliver a job well done.

Healthy Work Practices Reduce Burnout Risk for Remote Teams

As more and more companies make the switch to a remote workplace, it is essential that leadership teams take the time to learn about burnout and acknowledge their role in helping to mitigate these concerns. 

Helping to set your employees up for a successful work-from-home experience starts by creating a strong and resilient team of workers. With ScoutLogic’s background check services, you are one step closer to building a dream team of employees.