Stress and Burnout Check-up Tool for Managers and Supervisors [2.10.2f 22]
The following is an excerpt from Stress and Burnout: A Prevention Handbook for the Alcohol and Other Drugs Workforce, by Natalie Skinner and Anne Roach from National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA), Flinders University: Adelaide, Australia. The full Stress and Burnout handbook can be found Here or through a search request Here.
Stress and burnout can be expressed in a range of different ways depending on the individual worker’s coping style and circumstances. Listed below are some common warning signs of stress and burnout to be aware of.
Work Performance
- Declining/inconsistent performance
- Loss of enthusiasm
- Accidents/uncharacteristic mistakes
- Increased time at work
- Lack of holiday planning / leave requests
- Indecision
- Memory lapses
- Criticism of other
- Lack of cooperation with others
Physical Symptoms
- Nervous, stumbling speech
- Sweating
- Tiredness / lethargy
- Frequent headaches
- Hand tremor
- Rapid weight loss or gain
- Upset stomach
- Lack of interest in appearance/hygiene
- Increased alcohol consumption/smoking
- Out of character behaviors
Withdrawal Behaviors
- Reluctance to give support to coworkers
- Arriving late and/or leaving early
- Extended lunch breaks
- Increased absenteeism
- Reduced social interaction
Emotional Reactions
- Crying
- Irritability/moodiness
- Overreactions to problems
- Temper outbursts
- Aggressive behavior
- Sudden mood swings
Additional Resources:
Tehrani, N. (2002). Managing organizational stress - A CIPD guide to improving and maintaining employee health and wellbeing. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Leka, S., Griffiths, A., & Cox, T. (2003). Work organization and stress: Systematic problem approaches for employers, manager and trade union representatives. Geneva: World Health Organization.
The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) is a measureof three specific aspects of the burnout syndrome—emotionalexhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment. Further information can be found
Here.
Self Help Tool Finder helps to find resources offered by the Mind Tool Stress site. Tools and articles include Stress & Perception - Thinking Stress Away; Building Defenses Against Stress; Managing Environmental Stress; Coping With Work Overload; Surviving the Stress of Problem Jobs; Managing Co-Worker and Team Stress; Working With Problem People; and Managing Performance Stress, among others. Main link to tool findercan be found
Here.
Schedule of Recent Experiences (SRE)
is a tool to understand the impact of 42 probable stressors experienced in normal life; it allocates an appropriate “score” to each. It can be found Here.
Stress at Work: How do Social Workers Cope? National Association of Social Workers Membership Workforce Study. It can be found
Here.
Work Life blog sponsored by World at Work. This blog is intended to provide a deeper understanding of how work, family and community intersect and to clarify the meaning of work-life and to provide commentary and news on the topic of work-life effectiveness as a business strategy. It can be found
Here.
The Definition and Core Practices of Wellness, This paper published by the Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA) discusses the core practices of wellness and considerations for the future tools and interventions for individuals and employers. It can be found
Here.
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