HOW TO BEAT THE BURNOUT IN 2021
As a nationwide recruitment firm, I have the opportunity to speak to a cross-section of clients and executives that span across the entire time zone map of the United States. I consider this to be one of the most enjoyable parts of my job. As a result, I usually have a pretty good pulse on what the trends are within the Home Furnishings industry.
One common thread that I’ve heard this year is how difficult the last 15 months have been since March of 2020. We all know that the real heroes are the Health Care workers and First Responders on the medical front lines. That next tier is all the front-line retail and restaurant workers that kept us fed and supplied throughout those difficult months.
These folks kept up with impossible workloads and changing conditions as the pandemic swept through the country. I know that I am personally grateful to all of these workers and I have thanked each of them as I’ve encountered them in my world.
Nearly every business professional I’ve spoken to recently has cited a need to do something special in the summer months ahead. Everyone is feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and still wary of what may happen in the months ahead. Many business leaders are already addressing this personally since I have heard numerous first-hand accounts about special vacations and time off. Nearly everyone has said the same thing…” I need to recharge my batteries”. I have heard about trips being planned to Hawaii, two weeks at a beach house in Florida, a cabin in the White Mountains just to name a few.
BURNOUT IS HERE
Here is why I think this is a great focus. On the labor and support side of the workforce, 72% of workers in one study said that they are going through a burnout phase. This is not hard to believe knowing how thinly stretched many front-line workers were as they maneuvered through difficult and ever-changing conditions during the Covid lockdown months. Add to this all the things added in the difficult re-opening phase including all the short staff issues that had to be overcome.
Only 15% of companies said they had a plan to deal with this looming burnout crisis. The 15% include some innovative companies that are pushing people to take time off and rewarding their employees. In some cases, business leaders are making vacation mandatory. These companies all realize that the burnout factor can lead to a more likely conclusion of having higher turnover rates. This is on top of the already staggering turnover that our country is already experiencing.
FEELING THE BURNOUT
From a personal perspective I also felt the drain too. Because of the workload over the past months. I could feel myself feeling tired, overwhelmed and physically just not as sharp as I typically feel. These are all classic symptoms of the beginning of a burnout phase. Generally speaking I do not step away for blocks at a time in the summer months. This is because I am always at the peak of hiring for our client companies. In fact, through the years most of my vacations have been cobbled together by bookending a day off here or there on either side of a holiday weekend or two.
GONE FISHIN!
My solution for myself was to carve out some vacation time and extend the 4th of July weekend into a week. We decided to get away and do what I love to do, which is get back to nature. I put this on my calendar as my aptly named “GONE FISHIN” week and planned accordingly.
During that week I had my laptop with me but I never opened it, my cell phone was on vibrate mode and I actually had the out-of-office feature engaged on my email. The result was so much better than I could have hoped for - I hiked extensively, took a guided fishing trip (proof is in the picture), and stayed in a beautiful Airbnb on a cattle ranch. By the second day, I felt the stress relief wash over me. I returned to work totally re-invigorated and with a renewed sense of purpose.
So what are your plans for this summer and fall? Hopefully, you’ll follow your passion and get some downtime. In addition, I recommend connecting with your employees on a personal level and checking in with them to see what their plans are. If they have nothing planned then perhaps they just need to hear from their boss that you care and it’s ok to take the time off.
Now is the time to make sure your employees are in the planning stage to avoid burnout and take the time to recharge and refresh for the rest of 2021.
Want more hiring tips?
Bill O’Malley is President of Connector Team Recruiting a firm headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia specializing in the Furniture | Appliance and Sleep verticals. Connector Team is an affiliate office of MRINETWORK, Philadelphia, PA. Connector Team is a full service Search Firm offering permanent placement recruiting and interim staffing solutions.
Feel free to contact Bill at bill@connectorteamrecruiting.com.