3 TIPS TO AVOID STAFF BURNOUT AND SAFETY CONCERNS IN 2022
By: Scott Bahr
Business is booming here in Canada, especially if you’re in the mining business. In particular, potash and other resource mines are having to work at full tilt to try and keep up with the ever-increasing demand from consumers.
In fact, according to an article published this year in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, the industry—fresh off its impressive potash sales of $5.5 billion in 2020—is projected to experience even more, and possibly exponential, growth in 2022 and beyond. Such skyrocketing sales stats set potash solidly as the fourth most valuable mineral mined in Canada, closely following gold, coal, and iron ore.
Such demand has left Canada’s mines scrambling to keep up— an endeavour that is made much more difficult due to the continued labour shortages facing the mining industry today. When you add all of this up—the high demand, stress from shortages (in both supply and workers), and more, the pressure can push mines to the edge, and what often arises from that mix is a recipe for safety concerns. To help you address—and ultimately eliminate—said safety concerns, we have come up with the following trio of tips.
TIP #1 – SPOT BURNOUT AND POTENTIAL FOR BURNOUT BEFORE IT HAPPENS
Job burnout is real, and it has specifically been linked to work-related stress. Job burnout is defined as “a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity,” according to the experts at the Mayo Clinic. And while burnout isn’t an actual medical diagnosis, many others have been linked to it—such as depression—and it has a substantial effect on workers´ mental and physical health.
According to the clinic, some of the symptoms to look for to spot burnout include:
Increased feelings of cynicism or negativity, and irritability at work
Experiencing a feeling of dread when going to work, and having trouble getting started
A lack of energy and motivation for being productive
Having difficulty concentrating
Lacking satisfaction in job role/achievements
Difficulty sleeping, or using food, drugs, or alcohol to cope with work stress/pressure
Plagued by a sudden arrival of various physical ailments such as headaches, stomach, or bowel problems, or other physical complaints
If any of the above-mentioned symptoms pertain to you, you might be experiencing job burnout, and you wouldn’t be alone. Deloitte conducted a marketplace survey on this exact issue, which revealed a vast majority of professionals today are feeling the pressure and stress of the workplace, which is leading to burnout. According to the survey, 77% of respondents reported experiencing employee burnout at their current job.
With such dismal numbers, it’s clear that employers need to be doing better to protect—and better promote—their employees´ well-being in the workplace.
TIP #2 – MAKE SURE EMPLOYEES HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED
To promote employees’ overall mood, employers need to be proactive about ensuring they are providing their workers with the resources they need to succeed in the workplace. Such resources for success and improved wellbeing could include:
Ensuring adequate staff is hired to not overtax or overburden any one worker/department
Ensuring staff has access to the necessary tools needed to perform their roles in the easiest and efficient manner
Providing adequate training to ensure each employee knows how to complete their work responsibilities (has been taught the proper skills)
Providing plenty of breaks to stave off exhaustion and avoid safety-related concerns
Having clear expectations to avoid employee second-guessing their roles
Providing adequate support and ample benefits (this could include mental health counseling, a medical plan, well-being perks, and more)
TIP #3 – DON’T OVERLOAD HIGH PERFORMERS
Every organization has its share of high performers—superstars if you will. As leaders, we must ensure we are not overloading them. It’s also important to remember that it is all too common for such overachievers to continue saying yes to more work whenever it is offered despite the negative consequences it may have on their mental health.
A good way to reward their superstar work, while also not overloading them, is to give them choices on the tasks and jobs they want to work on (when possible) versus allowing them to take on all of them/
Watch out for these “yes people”, and when dealing with them, make sure you’re looking for worrying burnout signs, such as stress and a decline in the quality of their performance.
*Bonus Tip – Make sure to recognize and appreciate all employees’ performances. You would be amazed at how a little praise goes a long way when people are working hard and might be feeling tired due to the effort.