Stress in the Modern Workplace

Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the demands of life. In small doses, stress can be a motivating factor that pushes us to perform well. However, the nonstop complications of modern life mean that some people’s alarm systems rarely shut off. This constant state of alertness can lead to a host of physical and psychological issues, from sleep disturbances to anxiety and depression.

In the workplace, stress can be particularly damaging. The pressures of meeting deadlines, dealing with difficult coworkers, or managing high workloads can push employees beyond their ability to cope. Over time, this chronic stress can lead to burnout, a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.

The Burnout Phenomenon

Burnout occurs when employees feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. As the stress continues, employees begin to lose the interest and motivation that led them to take on a certain role in the first place. Burnout is a growing concern in today’s fast-paced work environment, with severe consequences for both employees and organizations.

While stress and burnout share many similarities, they are distinct phenomena. Stress typically involves too many pressures that demand too much of you physically and psychologically, but burnout is about feeling empty, devoid of motivation, and beyond caring. People experiencing burnout often don’t see any hope of positive change in their situations, leading to a sense of helplessness and defeat.

Is Burnout a Mental Disorder? A New Perspective

The question of whether burnout should be conceptualized as a mental disorder is a contentious one. Some argue that burnout is a work-specific phenomenon, with its key dimensions being depersonalization/cynicism at work and reduced professional efficacy. However, others contend that the presence of context-specific causes, such as high job demands, does not necessitate the development of a new diagnostic category.

The overlap between burnout and depression is also a point of debate. Burnout and depression share a similar clinical presentation, and both are typically highly correlated with one another. Research indicates that relations between burnout and depression are reciprocal, suggesting that suffering from burnout increases employees’ risk of depression, and vice versa.

Understanding Stress and Burnout in the Workplace

For managers, understanding how to recognize stress and burnout among workers is crucial. Not only can these issues lead to decreased productivity and increased turnover, but they can also create a toxic work environment that is detrimental to the overall health and well-being of all employees. By recognizing the signs of stress and burnout early, managers can intervene and provide the necessary support and resources to help employees cope.

Introducing the PERMA+4 Framework

The PERMA+4 framework is an expanded version of Seligman’s popular PERMA model but optimized for the work context. It includes the original five elements of PERMA (Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishments) and adds four new elements: Physical Health, Growth Mindset, Work Environment, and Economic Security.

The PERMA+4 framework provides a comprehensive approach to improving work-related well-being and performance. By focusing on these nine elements, employees can improve their physical health, mindset, work environment, and economic security, leading to higher levels of engagement, motivation, resilience, and performance.

Using PERMA+4 to Combat Stress and Burnout

The PERMA+4 framework offers a proactive approach for managers to help their employees combat stress and burnout. By fostering an environment that encourages positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, accomplishments, physical health, a growth mindset, a positive work environment, and economic security, managers can help employees build resilience and thrive in the face of workplace stressors.

While stress and burnout are significant challenges in the modern workplace, frameworks like PERMA+4 offer promising strategies for promoting well-being and performance. By recognizing the signs of stress and burnout and implementing proactive strategies, managers can create a healthier, more productive work environment for all.

References

The PERMA+4 Framework: A New Approach to Well-Being at Work (Psychology Today)

Donaldson, S. I., Van Zyl, L. E., & Donaldson, S. I. (2021). PERMA+4: A framework for work-related wellbeing, performance and positive organisational psychology 2.0. Frontiers in Psychology, 12(817244).

Nadon, L., De Beer, L. T., & Morin, A. J. (2022). Should burnout be conceptualized as a mental disorder? Behavioral Sciences, 12(3), 82.

Seligman, M. (2018). PERMA and the building blocks of well-being. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 13(4), 333-335.