World Health Organisation recognises 'burnout' from job stress

The World Health Organisation has declared "burnout" to be an occupational phenomenon that undermines how well people perform at work.

The United Nations agency last week listed burnout in its latest International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), defining it as a "syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed". It stopped short of classifying burnout as a medical condition.

Lauren Crystal ended up in hospital after suffering burnout caused by the pressure of work.Credit: Justin McManus

However, Gordon Parker, a professor of psychiatry at the University of NSW and founder of the Black Dog Institute, said WHO's wording left open the possibility of listing burnout as a disease in the future.

“I more read ICD-11 as drawing attention to burnout as an explanation for some states and perhaps gently setting the stage for its later formal classification," Professor Parker said.

The WHO listing said burnout was characterised by feelings of exhaustion, mental distance from a job and reduced professional efficacy. It refers specifically to workplace issues and "should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life," WHO added.

The Black Dog Institute is seeking participants for stage two of its burnout study, which Professor Parker said aimed to find a more precise definition and distinguish it from conditions such as depression.

His research also aims to determine to what degree of burnout is triggered by external factors.

“If burnout is caused at least in part by external triggers in the workforce - for example, forced overtime, overloading - then it will be the responsibility of employers to eliminate these triggers,” he said.

If burnout became accepted as a diagnostic condition, Professor Parker said the door could be open to insurance claims and sick leave for Australian workers.

“Employers will be somewhat resistant as they, if wise, will be required to introduce preventative strategies to reduce the risk and also assist management of those with the condition, but this is all achievable,” he said.

Jennifer Low, an associate director at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said WHO had provided clarity and put “understandable boundaries around workers’ compensation claims and medical treatment whilst guiding workplace interventions”.

But she said it was difficult to determine the prevalence of burnout because it was not typically measured or diagnosed within WorkCover schemes.

“Prevalence will be highly dependent on the nature of work and the extent to which it is endlessly pressuring,” Professor Parker said. “Anecdotally, it appears to be increasing in most Western regions.”

Lauren Crystal felt the crippling effects of burnout while working as a consultant at a software company where expectations were “intense” and long working long hours were expected.

“The boss told us many times he liked to see people prove themselves by being in the office after hours, so working from home wasn't really an option,” she said. “For me, this meant a lot of long hours at work with long, late-night commutes.”

Ms Crystal’s job left her physically and mentally exhausted, constantly stressed and unable to “turn off”.

“When I asked my boss if I could work some of the evenings from home, it was met with resistance and a frown,” she said.

Ms Crystal said her mother urged to leave the job after she ended up in hospital suffering physical symptoms brought on by stress.

Ms Crystal, who won a leadership prize at this year's Telstra Business Women's Awards, now runs a creative agency and developed a software program to help workers manage their workload and avoid overtime.

Burnt-out executives, meanwhile, may struggle to take time off from stressful jobs even though stressed-out corporate leaders are prone to poor decision making.