New research shows the overwhelming majority of New Zealand workers (81%) say they feel burnt out at work with many (24%) not sharing their struggles with their manager.

Heavy workloads (59%) and an insufficient number of staff (31%) were the top two contributors to feeling burnout. The majority (76%) said their managers are aware of their feelings and are handling it by encouraging time off (24%), delegating responsibilities to other team members (19%) and helping prioritise projects (18%).

Defined in the research as a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged or excessive workplace stress, burnout was most keenly felt by Gen X (89%) while Baby Boomers reported the lowest rate (69%). Sixty percent said they felt “a little burnt out”, 16% “very burnt out” and 5% felt “completely burnt out”.

These are alarming levels, said Ronil Singh, director at Robert Half, the specialist recruitment company behind the survey. “Despite New Zealand being known for … healthy work-life balance, the past year has seen a surge in stress, exhaustion and disengagement among employees. A combination of factors, including companies operating with minimal staff, the pandemic's lingering effects, economic instability and pervasive job insecurity have all contributed.”

The findings were released on World Mental Health Day (10 October) after surveying 501 full-time office workers across New Zealand, as party of an international survey.