New report finds employees may be feeling pressured to accept additional workload
Nearly all employees in the United States are experiencing burnout as a result of accepting additional work, according to a new report from LiveCareer.
The report, which surveyed 1,160 workers, found that 77% of employees are asked to take on additional work beyond their job description at least weekly. Another 36% said they receive these requests daily.
As a result of taking on additional work, 93% of employees said they experience burnout, including 59% who said they feel this from not saying no to extra responsibilities.
But why not decline? According to the report, 56% of employees feel pressured to accept additional tasks, and only 30% accept extra work willingly.
Around a third of employees also said accepting extra work can help in their skill development (33%) and may give them financial rewards like bonuses or raises (32%).
Accepting additional workload isn't a foreign concept. Previous findings across the world have also highlighted that some employees are taking on extra tasks due to fears of termination amid sweeping layoffs.
According to LiveCareer, among the types of work that employees accept include:
Jasmine Escalera, career expert for LiveCareer, said extra work can be a stepping stone for career growth, but noted that this could lead to various consequences.
"Balancing additional tasks with core responsibilities can lead to burnout and job dissatisfaction for some, especially when expectations are unclear or unfairly distributed," Escalera said in a statement.
In addition to burnout, 40% of employees said taking on extra work has resulted in strained relationships with supervisors. More than three in 10 employees also reported:
Being overworked by employers may also lead to health issues, as a previous report from Umbrella Wellbeing found that working long hours among New Zealanders raises the risk of stroke or heart disease.
To prevent these consequences, Escalera advised employers to strike a balance between assigning additional tasks to foster employee growth and avoiding overburdening their employees.
"By prioritising open communication, equitable workload distribution, and encouraging healthy boundary-setting, employers can create a workplace culture that supports professional development while maintaining sustainable productivity, employee satisfaction and long-term organisational success," she said.