In a recent study, with results that will surprise few people, it was found that during the COVID-19 pandemic those employees who picked up additional responsibilities at work and/or were also providing caregiving for their children are now experiencing significantly higher rates of burnout and other mental health issues all these months later.
Burnout at work can lead to a lack of attention to detail which will lead to safety issues and possible injury. An injury sustained at work may be considered a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim.
The study that spoke with nearly 7,000 people at the beginning of the pandemic and then nine months later to check in on that same group found some stunning statistics that go beyond worker burnout and may signal additional mental health challenges ahead for employees and employers. A deeper dive into the numbers may be informative about what the workplace environment for returning employees will look like going forward;
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Work-related stress grew 4.1 times
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Burnout increased by 2.3 times
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4.5 times decrease in motivation
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Workplace positivity fell by 36%
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Respondents who reported low energy reported the following numbers
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82% increase in physical stress symptoms
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92% decrease in motivation
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61% increase in job worries
While the results of this study may not surprise those who were affected by the pandemic whether in the workplace or at home as caregivers it should give us pause as workers return to some normalcy in the workforce as a red flag that there will undoubtedly be some residual effects from the pandemic and they long-lasting stress and anxiety produced for workers.
As workers begin to return to their place of business it is important for employers to show them grace as they may need space to re-enter the workforce in a place that will allow them to focus on their roles and responsibilities safely in an effort to ensure that they do not see an increase in Connecticut workers’ compensation claims.
If you are headed back to your place of work and are experiencing mental health issues that have led to an injury, contact our office and one of our board certified attorneys will review your case.
