KM Discussion 22: Worker Burnout

“Give up the delusion that burnout is the inevitable cost of success.” 
– Arianna Huffington
  • According to The American Psychological Association, 80% of employees are at risk for burnout
  • $322 billion in lost productivity is the annual impact to U.S. businesses
  • Burnout is highest in the tech industry
  • Taking the perspective of an upside management pyramid can mitigate the risk
American Psychological Association. (2025). Majority of U. S. Workers say job security has significant impact on their stress. https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/work-in-america/2025

American Psychological Association. (2023). 2023 Work in America Survey: Workplaces as engines of psychological health and well-being. https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/work-in-america/2023-workplace-health-well-being

BBC News. (2024, April 6). How to cope with stress at work | BBC News [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svh5_wkTPK4

Bichsel, Jacqueline; Fuesting, Melissa; Tubbs, Diana; & Schneider, Jennifer. (2023, September). The CUPA-HR 2023 Higher Education Employee Retention Survey. CUPA-HR. https://www.cupahr.org/resource/higher-ed-employee-retention-survey-findings-september-2023/

CBS Detroit. (2024, June 10). Study shows 80% of employees at risk of burnout. Here's how to prevent it [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SUHSxPBRc4

CBS Mornings. (2025, August 27). How to avoid burnout and find work-life balance [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-qTBcui1qE

CNBC Television. (2025, October 1). CNBC Changemakers and Power Players: Arianna Huffington on ending burnout culture in the AI era [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fybQTpKvlU

Dr. Romie. (2024, January 25). Burnout Crisis in the Workplace: Dr. Romie on Busy Brain Cure NBC News [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcZMru8PZjo

Karmali, M. (2025, January 28). Over half of American employees have used AI to take workplace training, according to new data. Moodle. https://moodle.com/us/news/ai-for-workplace-training-in-america/

Khammissa RAG, Nemutandani S, Feller G, Lemmer J, Feller L. Burnout phenomenon: neurophysiological factors, clinical features, and aspects of management. J Int Med Res. 2022 Sep;50(9):3000605221106428. doi: 10.1177/03000605221106428. PMID: 36113033; PMCID: PMC9478693.

KFVS12 | Heartland News, Weather & Sports. (2024, May 22). Work Happy: Addressing workplace burnout [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1tnR0AWAqs

Queen City News. (2025, July 25). Business Analyst: Over half of workers near burnout [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNDy8m_K0AM

Ray, J. (2025, June 10). Work Schedules Fail Millions of U.S. Employees. Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/poll/690881/work-schedules-failmillions-employees.aspx

Schneider, Jennifer & Bichsel, Jacqueline. (2025, September). The CUPA-HR 2025 Higher Education Employee Retention Survey. CUPA-HR. https://www.cupahr.org/resource/higher-ed-employee-retention-survey-findings-september-2025/

Simpson, M., Gillis, J. (2025, May 25). The State of Workplace Burnout in 2025: A Comprehensive Research Report. The Interview Guys. https://blog.theinterviewguys.com/workplace-burnout-in-2025-research-report/

U.S. Public Health Service. (2022). The U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health & Well-Being. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.