In break rooms, inboxes, Zoom calls, and exit interviews, one word keeps surfacing again and again: burnout. It’s not new, but it is everywhere. And it’s getting worse.
Recent data shows that burnout is hitting U.S. workers at staggering rates. As of early 2025, 66% of employees report experiencing burnout, with the highest numbers among younger workers: a staggering 83% of 25 to 34-year-olds and 81% of 18 to 24-year-olds say they’re burned out. And they’re not imagining it. Burnout has become so common that its mentions on workplace review sites like Glassdoor have increased by 32% year over year, typically tied to lower ratings for work-life balance, leadership, and company culture.
This Isn’t Sustainable
The message from the workforce is clear: the way we’re working isn’t working.
Burnout shows up in sleepless nights, chronic fatigue, anxiety, and long-term health conditions. It chips away at a person’s sense of purpose and capacity, turning once-engaged employees into quiet quitters or worse, quiet sufferers. In fact, 76% of workers say they feel burned out at least occasionally, and more than a quarter report feeling this way very often or always.
And burnout doesn’t just take a mental toll. It slows down careers. Burned-out employees are more likely to stop going above and beyond, disengage from growth opportunities, and look elsewhere. According to Gallup, they’re 2.6 times more likely to be actively job hunting. Many workers, especially Millennials and Gen Z, say burnout is a key reason they’re thinking about leaving their jobs.
If your employees are mentally checking out or physically walking away, your company’s culture, performance, and bottom line are already taking a hit.
The Hidden Cost for Businesses
You might not see burnout on a balance sheet, but make no mistake. It’s draining your profits.
Research estimates that burnout-related issues cost businesses between $4,000 and $21,000 per employee per year, depending on role and seniority. For a mid-sized company, that’s millions of dollars lost annually due to absenteeism, presenteeism (working while unwell), turnover, and healthcare expenses. On a national scale, U.S. healthcare spending tied to workplace burnout is estimated to reach $190 billion annually.
And this isn’t just a people problem for HR to solve in isolation. Burnout reduces productivity, lowers morale, and pushes your most talented people out the door. Reviews that mention burnout often carry lower scores overall, damaging your employer brand and future hiring potential.
Why Burnout No Longer “Works”
In decades past, burnout may have been seen as the price of success, proof of commitment or hustle. But today’s workforce is calling that bluff.
Gen Z and Millennials are demanding something different: flexibility, purpose, boundaries, and rest. And they’re not afraid to leave to find it. If your workplace still treats exhaustion like a badge of honor, you’re going to fall behind, not just in morale, but in retention, reputation, and results.
The truth is, companies that take care of their employees are the ones that will thrive. Because workers who feel supported are more likely to stay, grow, and show up fully.
So What Can You Do?
Start by listening. Ask your team what’s really wearing them down. Look for patterns: Is it unmanageable workloads? Lack of clarity? Poor communication from leadership? Then take tangible action.
That might mean reducing meeting load, training managers to better support mental health, or investing in policies that promote psychological safety. Some companies are even building internal teams of Burnout First Aiders, trained peers who can recognize early warning signs and help direct coworkers toward resources before they reach a breaking point.
Just like fire safety, burnout prevention works best when it’s proactive, not reactive.
The Bottom Line
Burnout is no longer a personal failing or a passing phase. It is a full-blown workplace crisis. And the old ways of grinding through it simply don’t work anymore. For workers, the cost is their health and career momentum. For businesses, it’s lost talent, productivity, and profit.
We all deserve better. And it starts with building workplaces that care.
To combat this, Workplace Fairness and Verdant Consulting joined forces to develop the Burnout First Aider Certification Course to help employers build a culture that protects their people and their profits. Learn about the course here and head to WorkplaceFairness.org to learn about your legal protections.
Edgar Ndjatou is the Executive Director of Workplace Fairness, a national workers’ rights advocacy nonprofit that develops free, accessible legal resources for workers and promotes improved public policy.
Dr. Allessandria Polizzi is the Founder and CEO of Verdant Consulting, a business consultancy firm that provides science-based skills to help teams & leaders resiliently navigate challenges and ultimately thrive.
