More than half of employees in Japan experience “burnout”

Women and employees in their 40s and younger tend to feel more stressed

On 15 December, specialist professional recruitment firm Robert Walters Japan announced the results of a survey among company employees in Japan on the issue of burnout and mental health. While burnout (a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed) is not a new phenomenon, it has become a growing concern during the pandemic with the diminished distinction between professional and personal life.

Over half of professionals have experienced burnout; 60% said it affected their personal lives

Fifty-six percent of respondents have felt symptoms of burnout at work. Of these, 60% said that their personal lives were affected by stress from work. When asked whether they felt that their employer places importance on mental health, more than half (55%) of those working for foreign-affiliated companies answered “yes,” while 39% of those working for domestic companies answered “yes.”

Women tend to feel more stress at work; 60% believe their company does not prioritise mental health

Looking at the results by gender and age group, 65% of women experienced burnout, 13 percentage points more than men. Work relationships and workload were cited as reasons. Sixty-five percent of women also felt that their personal lives were affected, 11 percentage points higher than men. When asked if they felt that their employer places importance on mental health, 60% of women answered “no,” compared to half of men.

More than 60% of those in their 40s experienced burnout, and over 70% of those in their 30s and younger felt their personal lives were impacted　

When looking at the results by age group, cases of burnout tended to be higher among those in their 30s or younger (56%) and 40s (65%), while 47% of those in their 50s or older experienced burnout. More than 70% of respondents in their 30s or younger said that stress at work affects their personal lives at 72%, indicating that they are the most easily affected. Among other generations, 49% of respondents in their 40s and 54% of those in their 50s or older said that stress at work affects their personal lives.

Measures to cope with burnout: confide in someone or change jobs　

According to company employees, the most effective ways to cope with burnout and other mental health issues were “talk to someone you trust” (48%), “change jobs and environment” (41%) and “clarify workload” (33%).

Based on the results, it can be inferred that by talking about it, looking outside the company, or looking for a new job, it may be possible to regain the motivation that was lost due to burnout. For companies, poor performance and absenteeism of employees due to burnout is a major issue that affects productivity and other aspects of the business. The more talented employees tend to have a larger workload, so companies may need to establish a time management system and create a team that can easily check if employees are taking their leave properly.

Survey period: 26 November – 7 December 2021
Target: Company employees registered with Robert Walters Japan and living in Japan n=186