Do workers with a recent history of burnout make different career choices?

Previous research showed that clinical burnout complicates career resumption because employers are less inclined to hire or promote previously burned-out workers. Researchers Philippe Sterkens, Stijn Baert, Eline Moens, Joey Wuyts and Eva Derous now studied the opposite perspective: Do workers with a recent history of burnout make different career choices?

To answer this question, the interdisciplinary research team had a representative sample of Belgian workers participate in an experiment in which they evaluated fictitious job offers with varying characteristics. The results are published in the Journal of Population Economics.

From their experiment, we learn that workers with a recent history of clinical burnout were relatively more attracted to jobs in which there were more telecommuting opportunities and feedback was provided regularly. Surprisingly, they also valued jobs with training opportunities less than workers without a recent history of clinical burnout.

"From previous research we know that burnout can be explained by excessive work demands and too limited resources that can buffer these demands (such as appreciation in the workplace). Our recent analyses now indicate that job demands and resources are similarly important in explaining the career choices made by individuals who experienced burnout.

"Specifically, feedback opportunities are perceived more strongly as a job resource by workers who recently experienced clinical burnout," says Philippe Sterkens, doctoral researcher in economics and psychology.

These findings are consistent with previous research among formerly burned-out workers showing that supervisor support is a crucial determinant of a successful return to work.

Policy perspectives

The researchers link the following policy advice to their study results.

"First, it appears that job crafting is a valuable instrument for workers with a history of burnout who are looking for sustainable re-employment. Arranging opportunities for feedback would be an example of a potent job crafting intervention," says Philippe Sterkens, doctoral researcher in economics and psychology.

"Second, following up on and encouraging the professional training of burned-out workers remains crucial because learning opportunities are positively related to mental health outcomes. All this, of course, within the constraints of recovery requirements."