Burnout is real and getting worse. The numbers are discouraging, for both men and women: 42% of women and 35% of men in Corporate America have felt burned out in the last few months (up from 32% and 28% respectively last year). One of three women surveyed say they have considered downshifting or leaving the workforce altogether. (Last year, it was one in four.) These figures come from McKinsey and LeanIn.org’s latest Women in the Workplace report, which surveyed 65,000 people in the United States.
Women Do More to Fight Burnout — and It’s Burning Them Out
Three strategies to help companies break this vicious cycle.
October 22, 2021
Summary.
Women are caught in a Catch-22 when it comes to burnout at work: They suffer it more and also do more to combat it. Forty-two percent of women and 35% of men in Corporate America have felt burned out in the last few months (up from 32% and 28% respectively last year), according to McKinsey and LeanIn.org’s latest “Women in the Workplace Report.” Companies can take three actions to alleviate burnout: 1) Set company-wide working norms to take some of the pressure off managers; 2) Equip managers with the training and resources they need to lead; and 3) Formally recognize their efforts by making managers’ support of their employees part of their performance reviews.
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Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to build a better, more just workplace.