It’s no secret that employees are constantly struggling to find that perfect balance between work and well-being. But navigating those waters can be challenging—many are being forced to comply with return-to-office mandates, using their vacation days to run errands, and generally struggling with burnout.
That sense of burnout is leading employees to say no when it comes to taking on extra work. Around 65% of workers feel empowered to decline additional responsibilities in the workplace, according to a new report from Resume Now, a job-seeking site. Younger employees, classified as 25 and under, are the group most likely to decline extra work, with 77% reporting that they feel empowered to say no.
“The report’s finding of continued widespread burnout and workers’ mental health challenges highlight the ongoing struggle to balance workload expectations with personal well-being,” Keith Spencer, a career expert at ResumeNow and author of the report, said in a statement. “Despite efforts to set boundaries and seek support, the impact of extra work on mental health and personal time remains a significant concern.”
While a significant number of employees are saying no to extra projects, not every employee feels confident enough to do so. The survey found that men (69%) are more comfortable rejecting additional responsibilities than women (62%). And while younger employees are declining more responsibilities than their colleagues, they are also reporting feelings of both relief (45%) and guilt (26%) when setting boundaries in the workplace.
There are ways that employers can best alleviate burnout amongst employees, according to the report. These include creating a supportive culture that empowers workers, especially mid-career professionals and women; encouraging manageable workloads; understanding the emotional impact of workload decisions; and reassessing workload distribution and providing tools to help employees manage expectations, reduce burnout, and increase productivity.
“While many employees are taking proactive steps to address stress, including setting boundaries and seeking support, the impact of extra work on mental health and personal time remains a significant challenge,” said Spencer.