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O P I N I O N
A new definition
The World Health Organization just redefined burnout and classified it as an “Occupational Phenomenon.” So, what’s next?
E ffective and sustainable employee engagement and growth is critical to success in the workplace, marketplace, and recruiting space. This is especially true for competitive and talent-starved industries, including the AEC industry.
incentives to recalibrate, or expose them to the negative consequences of burnout. WHAT THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DID. Burnout is included in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases as an occupational phenomenon. It is not classified as a medical condition. “Top talent today wants to win at both work and lif, and our most dedicated employees, managers, and leaders already want to prevent and reverse burnout – a concept that is now no longer abstract.”
The presence of professional burnout, and the disengagement that results, diminishes an organization’s attractiveness and brand to both talent and clients – a one-two punch to our long- term success. The World Health Organization’s actions legitimize workplace burnout and give more definition for those who may be experiencing exhaustion, distance, and loss from work they once loved. The question for leaders is what, if anything, to do now? Depending on our response, this redefinition and classification by the World Health Organization can either provide organizations and leadership teams with opportunities to further differentiate,
Peter Atherton
See PETER ATHERTON, page 10
THE ZWEIG LETTER September 16, 2019, ISSUE 1312
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