The Poor Economics and Ethics of Burnout Culture

Photo by David Tomaseti on Unsplash

“Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

The World Health Organization classified burnout as an occupational phenomenon and included it in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases. While this revision occurred in 2019, American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger first used the word burnout in the 1970s. Digital technology and the ability to “work from anywhere” has shifted our work culture away from the 9–5 and towards a constant state of availability. The concept of instant gratification has permeated every aspect of our lives, and it isn’t uncommon to not only receive an email after midnight but to be expected to reply. Boundaries between personal and professional lives are not only blurring but disappearing entirely to the point where personal time no longer exists. While companies may find short-term benefits in running their employees ragged, the reality of the situation is that this is rife with both ethical and economic consequences in the long term.

Overwork, defined as more than 55 hours a week, is responsible for the death of 750,000 people a year and is the single largest risk factor for occupational disease. Those who work long hours have a 13% higher risk of a heart attack and are 33% more likely to have a stroke. The…