Mid-career Is Such a Dangerous Time for Burnout and Workplace Stress

Everyone recognizes the trope of the stressed-out senior manager who’s always close to breaking point. But, in fact, mid-career is one of the most vulnerable periods for burnout and stress in a worker’s life. At this stage, many people have extra responsibilities outside work at the same time as their employer increases expectations around performance, availability and leadership. 

Mid-career is often where this double load increases the risk of burnout. Research has found that these professionals experienced particularly high levels of burnout, worked longer hours and reported lower job satisfaction compared to other age groups. A key driver was the ongoing tension between meeting the demands of their job and maintaining some semblance of a "work–life balance."

Importantly, burnout is now widely recognized not as an individual failing, but as a workplace problem. The condition is characterised by emotional exhaustion, cynicism and lower productivity, with research showing that it is shaped primarily by organizational structures, cultures and leadership practices rather than a worker’s weakness or a lack of coping skills.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Conversation.