According to SHRM\u2019s 2024 research on employee mental health<\/a>, out of the 1,405 surveyed US employees:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eagle Hill Consulting\u2019s The State of Worker Burnout 2024 report<\/a> offers a similar take. Burnout rates have dropped slightly since 2022 when they were at 49%. However, the most recent data from this report shows that nearly half of the US workers (45%) still report feelings of burnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clearly, burnout is a long-standing issue that brings about consequences not just for employees but for their employers as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As stated in a study on the correlations between burnout, work-related life quality and mental health<\/a>, people may experience symptoms that resemble those of depression and anxiety, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it\u2019s the professional side effects that concern the world of business the most. When your employees are dissatisfied with their jobs, withdrawn, and overall unable to perform well at their jobs, the company\u2019s resources get unnecessarily drained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, years of innovation have allowed technology to become our go-to solution for making our jobs easier and helping us feel less overwhelmed, i.e., burned out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But \u2014 is that really true?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Former engineering leader at Square Online and Weebly and the Founder & CEO at FutureFund, Darian Shimy<\/a>, believes technology can play a significant role in easing burnout \u2014 as long as we know how to apply it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTools that streamline communication can reduce email overload, while project management software can help teams stay organized without the constant need for check-ins and status updates. Furthermore, technology that supports flexible work arrangements can allow employees to work during hours they find most productive, helping to balance work and personal life more effectively.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Personal injury lawyer and Co-Founder at Templer & Hirsch, Mark Hirsch,<\/a> seconds this and explains how his law firm uses tech to make work easier:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTechnology can help prevent burnout by automating tedious chores, improving communication, and balancing work and personal life. Project management software and contact platforms that cut down on email time are examples of tools that make work easier. At Templer & Hirsch, we’ve implemented case management software that keeps track of tasks, which has made our staff much less stressed.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n Elevate productivity with CAKE.com<\/p>\n \n Combine time tracking, team communication, and project management to boost your organization\u2019s productivity \u2014 with the CAKE.com Suite.<\/p>\n \n That said, it\u2019s impossible to ignore how available technology has made us over the last few decades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, it has boosted our efficiency and made it possible for us to do more in less time. Tech has also helped businesses unlock growth opportunities they could have only dreamed about back in the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But at the same time, technology \u2014 including AI \u2014 is actually contributing to employee stress, and coincidentally, burnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a Quantum Workplace survey, employees who often use AI report higher burnout levels<\/a> (45%) than those who do so infrequently (38%) or never at all (35%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n But how does AI contribute to burnout exactly? A couple of ideas are at play here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A recent CNBC\/SurveyMonkey Workforce Survey<\/a> highlighted that AI could contribute to burnout by making us anxious about our job security<\/strong>. Indeed, according to the survey, a quarter of US workers (24%) are apprehensive about AI making their jobs obsolete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shimy also identifies that AI largely acts as a stressor<\/strong> in the workplace and could make employees feel inadequate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cConstant monitoring by AI tools can lead to a feeling of being watched and pressure to perform, which can increase stress levels. Furthermore, if AI tools are introduced without proper training or change management, they can lead to frustration and a sense of inadequacy, thereby increasing burnout instead of alleviating it.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, Melanie Franklin<\/a>, a thought leader in transformational change, author of Neuroscience for Change at Work,<\/em> and Founder of Capability for Change, shares that one of the ways AI contributes to burnout is through our perception of change<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAI has the ability to streamline and simplify routine tasks. We can save time by using generative AI tools like ChatGPT to process volumes of information and return summaries and descriptions, so report writing and presentations are quicker to develop. But…all these tools are yet more changes that our brains need to process, which feeds the feeling of burnout.\u201d <\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n So how does a big change, such as the introduction of AI in the workplace, influence us? Franklin explains that it contributes to a rather intense reaction:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFrom a neuroscientific perspective, change creates a powerful threat response, generating a cocktail of chemicals that are experienced as stress and anxiety, including adrenaline, epinephrine, and cortisol. [So,] if we want to avoid burnout, we need to put as much effort into minimizing the energy and effort needed for constant change as we do [in] coming up with ideas for more change.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n According to Franklin, one way of doing so is to focus on creating a more positive experience for employees:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSome of my most impactful work with executives is explaining the need to focus on the achievement of business results and the experience they are creating for employees. If executives fail to create a positive experience, they are shooting themselves in the foot because the next time they want staff to commit effort to adopting new ideas and new ways of working, they will be met with all the symptoms of burnout: cynicism; distrust; withdrawal of discretionary effort.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n The good news is \u2014 the story isn\u2019t over yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every invention comes with a few caveats, and the same goes for AI. But according to our sources, the continuous frustration burnout brings could be alleviated by AI in a few different ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hirsch, for instance, highlights mundane task automation as one of the perks of using AI:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAI can help people who feel burned out by automating tedious chores, making personalized suggestions, and helping people make better decisions. For example, legal study tools powered by AI can quickly review huge amounts of data, freeing our lawyers to do more meaningful work. This makes you more productive and keeps your mind from repeatedly getting tired from doing the same things.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Shimy believes AI could help managers take a more proactive approach to tackling factors that contribute to burnout:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAI-driven analytics can also help managers identify patterns that may lead to burnout, such as excessive working hours or uneven workload distributions, enabling proactive adjustments. Additionally, AI-powered wellness apps can provide personalized recommendations for stress management and mental health, tailored to each employee’s behaviors and needs.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Practical proof of AI\u2019s usefulness already exists. According to recent research on using AI to reduce physician burnout<\/a>, AI might be able to reduce physician workloads by improving the documentation process. Another study on using ChatGPT for teacher workload relief and burnout prevention<\/a> showed AI\u2019s potential to improve teaching and learning practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Evidently, avoiding AI isn\u2019t the solution \u2014 but neither is going in blindly and hoping the negative consequences won\u2019t touch you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So how do you mitigate burnout without shunning AI completely? As with most things in life, the secret is in \u2014 balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we\u2019ve actively started to use AI across many industries, AI burnout may become prevalent in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, just like with regular burnout, we could avoid it from the get-go \u2014 or at least lessen its effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As health IT leader and CEO of Riveraxe LLC, David Pumphrey<\/a> explains, AI alone isn\u2019t going to fix burnout, and when misused, it could actually worsen it. However, monitoring its impact should help mitigate it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe carefully monitor how new tools impact employees and make adjustments to avoid potential downsides. The key is using AI to complement human capabilities, not compete with them. With care and oversight, AI and other technologies have the potential to ease burnout, but management and culture are equally important. An organization dedicated to wellbeing considers how every policy and tool impacts employees, making their health a priority.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n To avoid the harmful effects of AI usage, Shimy recommends leveraging AI tools with strategic planning and careful implementation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTraining and continuous support are key to ensuring that employees feel comfortable and empowered by these tools, not overwhelmed or replaced by them. To mitigate any potential negative effects, it’s important to maintain an open dialogue about the use of AI in the workplace, actively seeking feedback from employees on their experiences and adjusting strategies as necessary.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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Tech\u2019s role in easing burnout<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Darian](\"https:\/\/cake.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Darian-Shimy-founder-CEO-at-FutureFund.png\")
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\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n\n\nHow does AI contribute to burnout?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Melanie](\"https:\/\/cake.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Melanie-Franklin-thought-leader-in-transformational-change-and-founder-of-Capability-for-Change.png\")
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nIs there a bright side to using AI?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nHow to mitigate AI burnout <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Monitor AI\u2019s impact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"David](\"https:\/\/cake.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/David-Pumphrey-health-IT-leader-and-CEO-of-Riveraxe-LLC.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nHave an open communication within the company about AI<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/cake.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Matt-Henderson-entrepreneur-and-co-owner-of-Nesta-Systems.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Richard](\"https:\/\/cake.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Richard-Mattingley-mental-health-expert-and-Director-of-Coaching-at-Share-the-Struggle.png\")
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