Balancing Engagement & Burnout: What DHR Global’s 2024 Report Reveals

In the inaugural report, DHR Global surveyed 1,500 white-collar, desk-based knowledge workers across North America, Asia, and Europe about the ever-evolving landscape of work. These insights provide organizations with a pulse on some of the greatest pressures impacting the mental health of their workforce.

Executive Shuffle

Leadership changes often bring a level of uncertainty and stress to the workforce. Over half of respondents reported that a C-suite executive left their organization in the past 12 months. Among them, 55% questioned whether the organization’s mission was still worth believing in and working for after an executive departure. This suggests that companies need to take a careful approach during executive transitions to avoid a mass exodus and keep employees engaged in their mission. While nearly three-quarters of workers trust their senior leaders, only 43% trust them deeply.

Employee Engagement & Mixed Motivations

On a more positive note, the report showed that employee engagement is increasing, with 88% of workers reporting that they feel very or extremely engaged. However, it may not be for the best reasons—over two-thirds of respondents (67%) say the tighter job market increases their engagement and 61% cite job insecurity as a motivator to stay engaged at work. 93% of respondents agreed that they would feel more engaged at work if their employers offered more relevant professional development opportunities.

Burnout on the Rise

Despite these high engagement rates, 82% of workers experienced some level of burnout—defined as feeling mentally, physically, and/or emotionally exhausted. However, only 15% felt extremely burnt out. Younger generations reported higher levels of burnout than their older peers: Gen Z (87%) and Millennials (85%) experienced the highest levels. Nearly 1 in 5 Millennials felt extremely burnt out, likely due to being at an age where they are juggling young children and entering management positions for the first time.

The Political Distraction

External factors, such as political turmoil, can leave employees feeling less engaged and at greater risk for burnout. In fact, 61% of workers agreed that changes in their country’s political environment left them more distracted at work.

AI is a Toss-Up

The rise of artificial intelligence is undoubtedly marking a paradigm shift in the way many companies operate. These dramatic changes can exert undocumented pressures on a company’s workforce. The report revealed that just over half of employees felt enthusiastic about AI improving productivity at work, while the rest were either unsure (10%), neutral (21%), or skeptical (17%).

Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace

DHR Global’s 2024 Workforce Trends Report will provide employers with factors to consider when working to support their employees’ mental well-being. During major leadership changes, executives can offer transparent communication, especially as trust tends to decline after executive departures. Providing professional development opportunities can further boost employee engagement, as most workers believe it would improve their connection to work. Employers can also address burnout—particularly for younger employees—by implementing wellness programs and offering flexible work options to help mitigate stress. Finally, organizations may want to consider providing support to help employees manage societal stressors like political turmoil and offer training to ease concerns about AI’s impact on the workplace.

By supporting mental health, organizations can create healthier, more productive, and more positive work environments.