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In fast-paced Singapore, fatigue, frustration, or apathy resulting from prolonged stress at work is nothing new. One in five Singaporeans feel de-energised at work – a rate that’s twice as high as the Asia average and 6% higher than the global average, which is leading to high burnout rates. In fact, 62% of Singaporean workers were now experiencing burnout and 57% confirmed that they have only a mediocre or poor work-life balance. This needs to stop and our friends at Pacific Prime Singapore explain why.

Burnt out employees take more sick leave …

Burnt out employees tend to be more stressed and take sick leave. This may be due to feeling mentally exhausted or physically ill – given the strong mind-body connection and impact that stress has on one’s lifestyle. Also known as absenteeism (as employees are absent from work), sick leave costs employers $$$ as employees are paid for the days and hours clocked in.

Did you know that unscheduled absenteeism roughly costs USD $3,600 per year for each hourly worker and USD$2,660 per year for each salaried employee? The cost is attributed to:

  • Wages paid to absent employees
  • High-cost replacement workers
  • Administrative costs of managing absenteeism

…and are less productive

Even if burnt out employees continue going to the office, their state of mind leads them to be less productive than if they were happy and healthy, which can also cost a company thousands of dollars per employee each year. This trend is known as presenteeism (as employees are physically but not mentally present at work) – something that’s rife in Singapore due to its competitive work culture and its society stigmatising mental health conditions.

They’re also more likely to quit their jobs

Burnt out employees are also more than twice as likely to leave their jobs because they can’t carry on any longer. This means companies have to deal with being short staffed in the interim, as well as face high costs associated with hiring and training new staff. To prevent things from reaching this stage, companies are learning to recognise burnout symptoms and supporting their employees.

One way companies can do so is by offering employee assistance programs (EAPs) and group health insurance that include mental health benefits. Working with a reputable and experienced brokerage like Pacific Prime Singapore is a good bet as they can help companies design, implement, and administer tailorable solutions. Contact them today!