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Half of Workers Around the World Are Struggling with Burnout

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Re: Half of Workers Around the World Are Struggling with Burnout

#21

Post by dexwiz »

Aeolun wrote: post #2

I mean, it's hard to not feel burned out when your day consists of process, navigating politics, and implementing ideas that are clearly doomed to fail. It's a lot better than homelessness though.

This sentiment seems a lot like the “you have it great, there are starving kids in X who have it much worse” meme I often heard growing up.

It encourages minimizing one’s problems, which can lead to all sorts of mental health issues. Thinking like this causes me to ignore real issues for too long, because someone else has it worse. It’s like gratitude’s evil twin of an emotion.

But we should respect ourselves and strive for better lives, even if they are already good compared to others.

Re: Half of Workers Around the World Are Struggling with Burnout

#22

Post by surgical_fire »

marginalia_nu wrote: post #7
bdcravens wrote: post #3

Most people don't have "fulfilling" jobs. They have a paycheck. A very small percentage of Americans, let alone those around the world, have the privilege of analyzing how their job makes them feel. I get paid great money to play with computers. My father was an elementary school janitor.

Big part of the problem is arguably alienation. A janitorial job can be rewarding because you can see that you are making a difference in the world. You get to meet the people whose lives are improved by what you do, every day. Filling out spreadsheets, it can be hard to tell what the purpose of what you are doing, whom it benefits, and how the world would be worse off if you simply didn't show up.

In either case, the purpose of what you are doing is earning a salary to pay your bills.

Workers would do well to always keep it in mind.

Re: Half of Workers Around the World Are Struggling with Burnout

#23

Post by yetihehe »

marginalia_nu wrote: post #7
bdcravens wrote: post #3

Most people don't have "fulfilling" jobs. They have a paycheck. A very small percentage of Americans, let alone those around the world, have the privilege of analyzing how their job makes them feel. I get paid great money to play with computers. My father was an elementary school janitor.

Big part of the problem is arguably alienation. A janitorial job can be rewarding because you can see that you are making a difference in the world. You get to meet the people whose lives are improved by what you do, every day. Filling out spreadsheets, it can be hard to tell what the purpose of what you are doing, whom it benefits, and how the world would be worse off if you simply didn't show up.

It can be even worse. When you do a stellar level job, no one complains. When yu slip a little, you have thousands of users complaining about some minor setting showing wrong values: "This crap is useless, they can't even implement one value properly". And you get this after sitting three weeks chasing some obscure bug deep in some library from your hardware vendor.

Re: Half of Workers Around the World Are Struggling with Burnout

#24

Post by mschuster91 »

Aeolun wrote: post #2

I mean, it's hard to not feel burned out when your day consists of process, navigating politics, and implementing ideas that are clearly doomed to fail. It's a lot better than homelessness though.

> It's a lot better than homelessness though.

Yeah and that is why the lobbying power against housing-first, guaranteed/subsidized housing, basic income, unemployment benefits or healthcare not tied to workplaces and whatnot is so strong.

The only thing that keeps people from voting with their feet and leaving their toxic employers is the threat of losing healthcare and housing. Take that power away from the employers, and a lot will change on its own.

Re: Half of Workers Around the World Are Struggling with Burnout

#25

Post by ikety »

I used to be an employee that would kill themselves for even minimum wage.

I think being a hard worker regardless of reward is an honorable trait, but keeping that up for decades is difficult. Naturally I am very loyal and agreeable. I like to solve raw engineering problems, but also social ones. I find a way to adapt to pretty much anything and anyone.

This almost always ends with my employer exploiting me.

Recently I've switched it up. I focus for a solid 2-4 hours a day on my tasks, and I use the remaining time for learning. It keeps my mind moving and keeps burnout at bay. Even average engineers like myself can optimize their workflow endlessly. You have a few choices at that point. You can give your surplus labor back to your employer in exchange for raises, bonuses, promotions etc. You can take back those hours to improve your WLB. You can reinvest those hours into learning that benefits your current employer, but more importantly, makes you more attractive in the job market.

Right now I find myself consistently choosing the third option. Not because I'm focused on maximizing my earnings, but because it is the most fulfilling and enjoyable option for me.

Re: Half of Workers Around the World Are Struggling with Burnout

#26

Post by brightball »

marginalia_nu wrote: post #7
bdcravens wrote: post #3

Most people don't have "fulfilling" jobs. They have a paycheck. A very small percentage of Americans, let alone those around the world, have the privilege of analyzing how their job makes them feel. I get paid great money to play with computers. My father was an elementary school janitor.

Big part of the problem is arguably alienation. A janitorial job can be rewarding because you can see that you are making a difference in the world. You get to meet the people whose lives are improved by what you do, every day. Filling out spreadsheets, it can be hard to tell what the purpose of what you are doing, whom it benefits, and how the world would be worse off if you simply didn't show up.

There are a lot of other outlets to turn that job into something more fulfilling.

- People do their job to make money to provide for their families. For some, that's all the justification you need.

- If it pays well, donate a portion of your income to a charity that you believe in AND get involved with that charity. There are tons of great options out there like Habitat for Humanity, literacy programs, Shriner's, Boy Scouts or a local church just off the cuff. This turns your job into a way that you are helping your community through a organization with a greater purpose. It can shift your perspective.

Just providing some ideas. To each their own.

Re: Half of Workers Around the World Are Struggling with Burnout

#27

Post by marginalia_nu »

surgical_fire wrote: post #22
marginalia_nu wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Big part of the problem is arguably alienation. A janitorial job can be rewarding because you can see that you are making a difference in the world. You get to meet the people whose lives are improved by what you do, every day. Filling out spreadsheets, it can be hard to tell what the purpose of what you are doing, whom it benefits, and how the world would be worse off if you simply didn't show up.

In either case, the purpose of what you are doing is earning a salary to pay your bills. Workers would do well to always keep it in mind.

If the only purpose of your life truly is to pay bills, that would cause anyone to burn out.

Re: Half of Workers Around the World Are Struggling with Burnout

#29

Post by darkwater »

Handprint4469 wrote: post #4

> on average, 48% of workers from eight countries indicate that they are currently grappling with burnout. > Based on a survey of 11,000 desk-based and frontline workers in eight countries (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, UK, and US) The actual report[0] doesn't even mention _how_ they measured burnout, only that "The survey captured self-reported data". [0] https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/fou…

Isn't almost every burnout condition based on self-reporting? There are case where it creates psychosomatic effects but most cases people just express how they feel about their job, no?

Re: Half of Workers Around the World Are Struggling with Burnout

#30

Post by dfvnbggfg »

marginalia_nu wrote: post #7
bdcravens wrote: post #3

Most people don't have "fulfilling" jobs. They have a paycheck. A very small percentage of Americans, let alone those around the world, have the privilege of analyzing how their job makes them feel. I get paid great money to play with computers. My father was an elementary school janitor.

Big part of the problem is arguably alienation. A janitorial job can be rewarding because you can see that you are making a difference in the world. You get to meet the people whose lives are improved by what you do, every day. Filling out spreadsheets, it can be hard to tell what the purpose of what you are doing, whom it benefits, and how the world would be worse off if you simply didn't show up.

> You get to meet the people whose lives are improved by what you do, every day.

dude have you ever been to high school?

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