What is Millennial Burnout Syndrome?

Burnout is becoming more common in the workplace. The World Health Organization has classified burnout as an occupational phenomenon, but more research is needed at this time to determine how burnout impacts employees’ mental health and wellbeing.

While burnout can impact anyone in the workplace, millennials (those who were born between 1981 and 1996) were raised to believe that hard work will make them stand out from the crowd. This, in turn, will get them the lifestyle they desire.

This generation is now fully integrated into the workplace and the older part of the cohort is moving into more senior roles within organizations.

Millennial burnout is becoming more common now that this generation makes up a significant portion of the workforce and will continue to do so as baby boomers retire.

The question is why does burnout seem to affect millennials more than other generations?

What is millennial burnout syndrome?

Burnout is a type of work-related stress. It is not a medical diagnosis, but some doctors believe that there are underlying conditions, such as depression, that can impact how an individual feels burnout.

Millennial burnout is part of the change in the way people work. Workplaces have become more remote; people are connected to the workplace 24/7 through email and messaging platforms. Even if you are not at work, you can be contacted.

The separation between work and leisure is blurred because it’s easy to be connected. For millennials, this has become a sort of vicious cycle where their success and efficiency has brought more work instead of more leisure time.

Instead of having time to do the things they enjoy, millennials are beginning to feel like those enjoyable things are tasks to be completed before they move on to the next one. In an age of social media, millennials know the happy pictures on Facebook and Instagram aren’t real, but the underlying message is still that life is achievable. They are working towards the perfect job and the picture-perfect home life.

How millennials became the burnout generation

Millennials are suffering from burnout because of the social and economic factors that impact them. Millennials began to come of age during the dot-com bust of the early 2000s. They were set back again by the financial crisis of 2008. These ups and downs in the economic cycle are nothing new and do not impact millennials uniquely.

However, other factors such as rising student debt have had a disproportionate impact on millennials that were not felt by other generations.

Millennials are leaving school with higher debt loads while wages stagnate. Millennials find themselves taking on second jobs or side hustles to support themselves in an era when companies try to become more efficient and cut costs such as health benefits.

Job security is a concern in the modern economy, but millennials have few resources to fall back on if they found themselves without a job.

This generation has put off home buying and marriage as they find their footing in the workplace. Millennials are not lazy; they simply have priorities that may be different from previous generations.

How to avoid millennial burnout

Millennial burnout isn’t something that one company can fix. However, companies can take steps to avoid millennial burnout. While not a medical diagnosis, health benefits for burnout can address the underlying symptoms such as anxiety and depression.

Having a benefits program that supports mental health and wellbeing is a step in the right direction.

Workplace support is also critical for avoiding millennial burnout. Managers who can identify and talk to employees who are at risk can help companies mitigate burnout.

Look for the employee that always feels the need to be perfect, to move on to the next big project – this may be the employee at risk for burnout. Unfortunately, this is not the type of situation where a vacation might solve the problem.

But identifying the problem can be the first step in accessing the health resources needed for some of the underlying issues. Managers may also be able to help streamline the work that needs to be done and find resources that can take over some of the tasks that cause the most anxiety.

How to deal with millennial burnout

Burnout can impact an employee’s mental health, so it is important to deal with it sooner rather than later. The first step to deal with burnout is to recognize it. Signs like chronic fatigue, trouble falling asleep, loss of appetite, loss of focus, and feelings of pessimism or apathy are often some of the first signs of burnout. More serious signs of burnout include chest pains, shortness of breath, dizziness, and depression.

There are health benefits for burnout that can address these medical conditions, although burnout is not a recognized disorder on its own. Addressing these issues early is beneficial for both the company and the employee.

Am I insured against burnout?

The answer to this question is, “it depends.” Burnout is not a medical diagnosis on its own, but it is recognized as having an impact on the mental and physical health of employees.

“Burnout” is a term that is used in everyday language that does not have a medical definition, so there are many interpretations about what it actually is and how it impacts people. Most insurance plans use the DSM-V as a framework for diagnoses and benefits.

However, as previously mentioned, burnout can have other conditions associated with it that are recognized in the DSM-V as medical conditions. Burnout may also include physical symptoms that can be addressed by a primary care physician.

There are some health insurance plans that cover burnout, but careful attention is needed to the definition and premium payments associated with such plans.

Employers do play a critical role in addressing burnout and can be more proactive in addressing employee needs. Time off policies, oversight of off-hours work, and identifying problems before they become larger issues are critical to having a happy and healthy workforce.

Having a health plan that covers physical and mental health is also critical to fighting millennial burnout. Employer-sponsored EAP (employee assistance programs) also provide a valuable resource.

If you find yourself in this situation, as an employer or an employee, you should consider reaching out to a benefits administrator for a suitable healthcare plan that covers this condition.

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