Burnout and Mental Health in Engineers
31.01.2025
The term Burnout was introduced by the psychologist, Herbert Freudenberger in 1981 in his book titled,“Burnout: The High Cost of High Achievement”. The author defines burnout as “the loss of drive or enthusiasm, particularly in cases where one’s dedication to a purpose or connection fails to yield the intended outcomes.”
Burnout is recognized and classified as an occupational condition,under the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) by the World health organization (WHO). It is classified as a factor thatinfluences health of individuals and impacts their performance oroutput at the workplace.1 More specifically, burn-out is defined in ICD-11 as a consequence of long term or chronic and unaddressed occupational stress, characterized by energy loss, disconnection from work, negativity regarding work and decreased professional productivity. Given the general impacts of burnout in the work environment, WHO plans to develop evidence-based guidelines on mental well-being in the workplace.
According to American Psychological Association, although some professions are more at risk than others, all professions can potentially experience burnout when exposed to the risk factors. Engineers are no exception. Burnout is measured using common tools such as MaslachBurnout Inventory (MBI), Burnout Measure (BM) and Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure (SMBM). These tools utilize a scale to assess factors such as personal fatigue, cognitive weariness, as well as emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion.2 The fast-paced nature of the technological world as well as the time sensitivity of actions and decisions to be made present risks or potentials for burnout. Engineers are tasked with the endless responsibility of troubleshooting, project deadlines, and result delivery, all under immense pressures, evolving technology climate, and demanding customers.
Global research shows that 40% of IT professionals, a field of technology engineers,, are at risk of experiencing burnout, while in IT security, this figure is over 50%. This study also shows that working from home from home, many tech workers have actually become more stressed instead of less.
Burnout is a complex experience resulting from a combination of individual and organizational factors.
Some reported causes of burnout and mental health issues among Engineers include:
Lack of appreciation and proper reward systems for the efforts
Micromanagement and bureaucracy
Loss of autonomy in decision making
Monotonous long work hours and tight deadlines
Increased workload, isolation or lack of teamwork
Absence of work-life balance
Consequences of burnout and mental health issues include:
Increased staff turnover
Poor work quality and missed deadlines
Impaired attention, memory, and function at work
Disinterest, disconnection and detachment
Anxiety, irritability6. Insomnia and fatigue
Ways to manage burnout:
Prioritize deliverables over number of hours worked.
Promote a sense of belonging by establishing shared values that foster team work.
Connect with remote workers through video calls.
Work smarter, not harder by engaging AI-powered tools to boost productivity.
Promote team-building activities
Delegation, communication and time management.