It's the pointless admin tasks, the meetings that could have been sent in an email - all of those little things that create mountains and prevent people doing their actual job
Have you ever thought that a lot of the pointless admin tasks and meetings are actually created by other people who are trying to protect themselves? Many are unable to handle their own emotional states but rather than discussing it and dealing with it, they "share the load" to others. And when it comes to meetings and emails, one of the problems is that a lot of people don't act on emails anymore.
You can't overload people and create kettles and then blame them when they can't survive.
But what is overload? If the majority can handle the load and some can't, should the load be lightened for all? Yes, overloading is bad of course, but what is the "right amount" when people are different? And then, if one person can lift half as much as another, should they get paid half as much?
Burnout can be terrible, as can depression and many other mental aspects of life. But at the same time, I believe we are using them as crutches and excuses more often, or we are getting to that state earlier when the load may not be that high. Change the environment, and we will change also. The environment has changed massively in the last few decades, but we haven't learned how to deal with all the changes in and out of work.
I disagree. It's obvious when the whole workplace complains about the workload, morale is low, bitching is high. It's also obvious that some people may handle high stress, but it doesn't mean everyone else should. It's obvious when people are asking for reasonable things, like less meetings in a term that don't do anything to enhance performance or culture.
I hope you aren't implying I used my burnout as a crutch or excuse. I don't think most people do - burnout is very real and documented, not just some one not handling an ordinary work environment because they're weak.
Of course. There's 500 staff at my school resentfully looking at people in exec positions earning twice as much to give everyone else more work to do to justify their positions.
Not acting on emails? Perhaps in your line of work, but I don't see that here. There's nothing more insulting that getting an email and then having a meeting that goes over the email. That's just stupid beyond belief, like reading from PowerPoints.
I don't know Taraz, we are probably speaking from totally different experiences in different workplaces and different cultures. Perhaps sweeping statements about workplaces and burn outs and solutions aren't where it's at.