Managers Key to Reducing Burnout Among Federal Employees: Gallup
More than a quarter of the federal workforce (27 percent) reported that they “very often” or “always” feel burned out while on the job. Two in five say they “sometimes” feel burned out on the job, according to a Gallup study which surveyed 5,410 federal workers throughout 2023.
Gallup says the consequences of high-burnout rates are obvious: more attrition which leads to higher labor costs, which leads to an overall increase in costs, which hamper an agency’s ability to fulfill its mission.
In fact, Gallup estimates that in an agency of 10,000 employees with an average annual salary of $50,000, low engagement contributes to $66 million in annual costs.
“When the mental health of workers suffers, so does workplace productivity, creativity, and retention,” said U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy.
Gallup also noted that how people experience their workload has a greater impact on burnout rates than number of hours worked, and that workers who are burned out often show a negative turn in their mindset, making them more resistant to coaching, less likely to engage with peers, and a major factor in souring workplace morale.
So, what’s causing burnout?
Gallup identified five key triggers:
· Unfair treatment at work
· Unmanageable workload
· Unclear communication from managers
· Lack of manager support
· Unreasonable tie pressure
Managers in focus
Gallup says managers play a “crucial role” in mitigating employee burnout noting that the best managers have regular meaningful one-on-one conversations with their employees.
In fact, Gallup says having a good boss whom you can talk to can reduce burnout rates by as much as 70 percent.
“When managers are engaged, their employees are more likely to be engaged as well,” said U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Chief Financial Officer Jay Hoffman.
However, one caveat here: Gallup noticed that federal mangers experience burnout at even greater rates than individual contributors (35 percent to 23 percent). Gallup says that to reduce burnout for federal managers, managers need their own coaching and personal development.
Gallup says employees are less likely to experience burnout when:
They are engaged at work.
Their organization actively supports employee wellbeing.
They work in a culture that celebrates each person’s strengths.
“I’ve learned that if you want to improve employee engagement, you must engage with your people. Listen, ask and listen some more,” said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Branch Chief of Human Capital Strategy James Egbert.
