More than half of the U.S. workforce is burnt out, with younger workers feeling the most strain, at 62 percent. Workers say that implementing a four-day work week and reducing workload would alleviate stress. And as the workforce shortage continues and quit rates reach historic levels, more than one-third of the workforce plans to leave their job in the next 12 months. More than half of workers polled (51 percent) say the pandemic has triggered a re-evaluation of their personal priorities.
These findings are from a workforce survey from Eagle Hill Consulting conducted by Ipsos from August 11-16, 2021. The 2021 Eagle Hill Consulting COVID-19 Workforce Burnout Survey included 1,010 respondents from a random sample of employees across the United States. The survey polled respondents on burnout and retention in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Both employers and employees are near the breaking point. Employers are struggling to find workers, and employees are stressed at work," says Melissa Jezior, president and chief executive officer of Eagle Hill Consulting. "Unfortunately, the workforce situation likely will worsen before it gets better, with one-third of the workforce planning to leave their job soon. The so-called Great Resignation means that employers must start a Great Re-Evaluation, re-thinking everything from their culture to how work gets done."
"Employee burnout was simmering even before the pandemic, and now it's boiled over for more than half of workers. It's simply an unsustainable situation for a business when burnout is rising and the labor shortage continues. This means leaders must fully understand what is working and what isn't for employees, and then collaborate on specific solutions that will work for an organization's business strategy and the workforce," Jezior explained. "It's complicated because there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. For example, a four-day work week may work well for some businesses, but it's impossible for others."
She added, "One bright spot in our research – two-thirds of workers say they value their employer more since the pandemic. Smart employers will dig in to find out exactly what employees value so they can leverage the positive to retain those employees."
The survey's key findings are as follows: