If you are suffering job burnout, is it okay to mention that to your boss?

Question

These are some great answers but let me add a little more info. I am a medical transcriptionist. basically it is the same thing every day for 8+ hours. I have sought outside help and I have done/been doing the suggestions. However, it has been about a year or so and I still have the same problem. I think it started with my previous employer who cheated all of us out of well-deserved money and then closed down the department to outsourcing. I am with a new employer now, but still have the same issues, but not being cheated anymore, so that is good.

Answer 1

Only if you already have another job secured!

Answer 2

There are two sides to it, if you mention it you might come off as incapable of handling pressure.
On the other hand, your boss may prefer to hear it from you rather than have poor results or complaints from elsewhere. It depends on his/her personality and track record in handling staff issues.
Why not ask for leave time to rest? If this is not possible in your work system or if you do not have enough time accumulated, try asking for uncertified/ unpaid leave due to personal circumstances. If this is not approved, you are within your right to complain of burnout, and ideally this should not in any way jeopardise your job, unless it gets to a point where you are not attending work for extended periods and affecting productivity.
If you feel your boss is unapproachable try your HR dept.
Or if need be, see a doctor for some advice, perhaps some medicaton and a couple days rest will do the trick
Try not to get too stressed out by stuff at work. Not everything will always go like clockwork and don't push your limits too much. Do what you can which should be good enough.

Answer 3

I don't think expecting the boss to have the solution is a good idea. Maybe you will think of a good question that you would want to be asked if you were the boss, like whether you may assume other work as well for more variety.

If you ask and the boss is receptive, maybe pick up on it and make progress for the company and yourself. If not, you have the answer to your question, don't tell the boss such a thing.

Finally, give yourself variety at home and work things out away from the office. Maybe the office is not the main issue. Maybe you lack one or more vitamins and don't realize it. Seeing a doctor or improving you diet might help.

Answer 4

It depends on the relationship you have with your boss. If I were suffering burnout, I would let my boss know. First, however, I would ensure that all major projects were as wrapped-up as possible, that there was someone else who could cover anything urgent while I was gone, and that I left things where someone else could easily located needed files/information. Then, and only then, I would go to my boss, tell her I needed a break, and firmly state that I was taking a week off - in a week and a half. Or two weeks. NOT tomorrow, unless you're in really serious trouble. If you've done your best to ensure the flow of business will continue, then it's unlikely you'll get fired or demoted. Of course, you could always just go to a shrink and get some meds for depression, then you couldn't be fired for needing time off - it's medical. OK, OK, so I'm kidding about the shrink thing. I don't know what kind of job you do, but you should make sure that someone can cover your hours, if that's an issue, or that there is maybe one person who knows how to get ahold of you in an EMERGENCY. This should be someone you trust to know the definition of an emergency that requires your action. I mean, if the place burns down, you're not going to be able to do anything more than anyone else - and they can call 911.

So, evaluate your job, make sure it's burnout, not a complete and total hatred of your job - that requires more thought. Then put in motion a way to keep from hating your job forever. It will benefit both you and the company you work for.

Answer 5

i almost hate to answer because you prob wont see it but heres some useful info - i didnt read everyone elses answers just a few -

obviously you dont want to tell your boss that for various reasons, but you can go to a doctor and let them know your situation, some people have something i dont remember what its called, but your doctor would be able to give you an excuse for time off work ( a week usually) - u could claim as sick time - the "disorder" and its not really a disorder but ( u feel me ?) n e way a lot of people have it and if this is something that happens to you repeatedly (burnout) you may have it there for you would be medically excused from work for 1 week every 6 mo or so. - im sorry i do not know what it is called, but your employer would not know whats wrong with you just that you have the excuse to be out of work. i hope this helps you some- tj

Answer 6

Seriously look at the job. Is your boss pushing too hard or is he/she being reasonable and you just can't handle it? (Don't have the skill/ can't handle the stress, etc.) If they are pushing unreasonably hard for an extended period of time, why do you want to stay? If you're only answer is that it's a big project to move to another job, get over it and start looking. If there is enough about the job that you want to stay and you're boss is pushing too hard, you might try to get another job within your company, or talk with your boss about the job. But not from the point of "Oh, I'm so burned out..." Approach it from the point that the job is not set up in a way that it can be done efficiently. You had better have some good suggestions to improve that before you go in to talk to him/her.
In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the last habit is called "Sharpen the Saw", which basically says that you have to take time to step back, and recover so you'll be sharp enough to do your job. Sitting quietly, yoga, chi lel chi gong, and exercise can help with this but you need to make the time to do it. If you go home to a madhouse of kids and televisions and stress...
Try to come up with ways to get your job done more efficiently, this will reduce your stress and look great on your review (or your resume for your next job!)
Bottom line, look at this carefully... There's a lot you can and should do before you go to your boss. This is good advice for a lot of things in life. 80% of what will solve your problems is in the mirror. Good luck.

Answer 7

hell yeah, its ok to feel like this, I felt like this a very short time ago and am beginning to feel like it again, honestly. I am seriously considering a change in career,sometimes its all about job satisfaction and the money takes second place.... You have to weigh up your options a bit I think, I had a word in my bosses ear about my feelings on my situation and I was very lucky, he understood and relaxed ( a bit ) on the pressure , but the presure is slowly but surely creeping back in.Now I 'm in the same position and thinking of taking a career break. If I find something different that i like, pays reasonable enough I'll continue to do it for a while.Hope this helps you, I can only go by the fact that I have experienced this before and I am experiencing it at the moment..... ADD some details, I am interested in what you are going to do.

Answer 8

I would say a flat out no, or at least not that directly. I would think if you did that your boss may start to look at your work more closely to see if there is any diminishing in your work quality. Which could lead to action plans, probation, etc...etc..eventually ending to termination due to job preformance.

I would approach it from another angle...if you have the possibility of moving to another job duty, mention that to your boss that you are interested in another position. Base this on the fact that you have "mastered" your existing position and need a new challenge. Make sure that the job you are looking to move to is indeed a new experience and offers a greater challenge than your current position.

That way you boss won't necessarily see it as your "burned out" so he/she may not even think to put you anywhere else within the company.

Answer 9

If you have been there for while and are comfortable talk to your boss and just tell them that you feel you are getting too complacent in your j\ob and can you maybe get a different set of duties to switch up. Or even suggest that you are very competent in the division or department you are in within the company you would like to learn all aspects of the department or even another department so that way you can be an indispensible asset to the company. A change of pace and new setting can make you feel burnt out. I would put it somehow where the company is best if you move around a little.

Answer 10

Yes it is okay to mention it. But it is how you say it...you have to approach your boss in a way that allows him to know that you are genuine and not just complaining or nagging. Some employers are understanding and other are not. I tell my manager all the time that I need some time cause I am burnout. He tells me to take some time and maybe sleep in the following day or leave early. He is really cool but he also knows it is better to keep me happy there then me be happy at home due to a stress leave.

Answer 11

Yep, I do it with my employer now. Though you have to take into consideration I am one person working from my home doing the work of literally 3 people, so job burn out is easily accomplished. They are very understanding and know I already put in an extra 6-10 hours a pay period and let me come and go as I please as long as we are making revenue at the end of the month and complaints are being taken care of they don't care. Good luck hope you can find time to get away and just relax and destress.