There's many reasons that employees fly the nest. Maybe they’ve found another job with better pay. Maybe they want to change careers. Maybe there are personal reasons involved. This could be the case, but recent research from HR leaders point to one main factor that stands above the rest. So, what's the ultimate cause of employees heading for the door?

BURNOUT.

This statistic was revealed as part of a Kronos survey, with burnout seen as the most frequent cause.

So, how does it happen?

Burnout typically comes as the conclusion of a long-winded and draining process, in which employees are expected to reach what some may consider outlandish expectations in a short period of time. This can be an enormous physical and emotional strain for staff. They may be able to produce promising results… at first. But, inevitably burnout kicks in when the workload becomes just to much.

We all want productive results for our workplaces, but need to ensure that success is prolonged rather than in short bursts. After all, "The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long." 

Employers need to engage more closely with their staff to ensure that their workloads are properly managed and that employees can cope with those expectations. Moving forward is great, but success should be a recurring factor, not a one-hit wonder. Clear communication is essential, employees should be encouraged to feedback their progress, thoughts and ideas before they head down the rocky road to burnout. If employers are asking, listening and reacting accordingly, employees will feel supported, and less likely to pursue their search for alternative employment. 

Mulcahy, who recently published The Future Workplace Experience: 10 Rules for Mastering Disruption in Recruiting and Engaging Employees, says "proactively tackling employee burnout will have a big impact on improving retention, which should be a top priority for organisations in 2017."

As the war for talent hots up, UK businesses are working ever-harder to find, attract and retain the best talent. Workvine are here to lead cultural change in how you engage with your workforce. Through smarter communication and collaboration, we nurture a closer association of your employee belonging, safety and security, as part of the wider workforce community, regardless of them being part-time, remote or non-desk based.