As we already commented in the article ‘Burnout syndrome: how to detect it and take action’, stress and job satisfaction have become an important factor during the last decades in the labour context.

Burnout is among the most difficult problems in the field of occupational safety and health, as it affects people and organisations in a significant way.

Boredom at work and occupational health

In recent years, occupational health experts are warning of another phenomenon that has a negative impact on the well-being of many employees, the ” Boreout Syndrome “. This syndrome, coined by Philippe Rothlin and Peter R. Werder in 2007, is the opposite of “being burnt out”, and is characterised by “chronic boredom”. Burnout and Boreout are opposite ends of a continuum, but both are equally harmful to the health of workers , i.e. they are two sides of the same coin.

While many may think that doing nothing at work is a dream come true, the reality is totally different: the obligation to be at work for hours without knowing what to do is a demoralizing situation. In addition, Boreout Syndrome can trigger what human resource experts call “workplace absenteeism.

A study by Dan Malachowski found that 33% of respondents felt that their work was not challenging and that they spent an average of two hours a day killing time on social networks . The same research stated that 15% of office staff worldwide are bored by their work. Another survey, this time by the consulting firm TMI, found that 80% of staff did not feel involved in their work, were indifferent to the successes and failures of their organization.

How does this syndrome manifest itself?

The Boreout has 3 characteristics that Philippe Rothlin and Peter R. Werder describe in their book “The New Boreout Work Syndrome” published in 2009

1. Undemanding , with repetitive and monotonous tasks. Performing meaningless tasks. Gives the impression of being able to give or not giving all that one can give. Feeling of being wasted.

2. Boredom , defined as a state of mind of listlessness, apathy and doubt because the employee does not know what to do during the day.

3. Disinterest , for lack of identification with the work

The causes of Boreout

According to the same authors, this syndrome occurs for several reasons:

  • Performance of tasks below the employee’s capabilities
  • The worker is in a job that does not produce a high motivation or has expectations that differ from the position in which he or she finds him or herself.
  • Lack of planning or lack of function specification of the work center, which can lead to role ambiguity.
  • Hoarding of the most motivating tasks by superiors or senior colleagues, leaving the more repetitive ones to the rest.
  • Performing monotonous tasks every day and for hours.
  • The organisational structure or the leadership style that prevents workers from participating or developing their potential within the company.
  • Impossibility of promotion or salary increase and lack of stimulation or recognition by their superiors, so that the effort in the work is not associated with the results obtained. In the long run, learned helplessness is produced.
  • Overqualification in knowledge or experience for a job, which may lead to job dissatisfaction.

Prevention of Boreout

The Foundation for the Prevention of Occupational Risks and the Observatory of Psychosocial Risks of the UGT recommend the following points to prevent Boreout in workers

  • Improve the work climate by promoting teamwork.
  • Increase the degree of autonomy and control at work.
  • Clearly define the functions and the role of each worker in the organisation.
  • Establish clear lines of authority in responsibility.
  • Provide the resources needed for the correct development of the activity.
  • Programs aimed at the acquisition and skill in improving emotional control and problem solving.
  • Improve the communication networks and promote worker participation in the organisation.
  • Encourage time flexibility .
  • Facilitate training and information on the work to be carried out.

Conclusions

Although it may seem that the employee who suffers Boreout is simply lazy, in reality it is a failure in the human resources policy of the company. Good practices in personnel management are important for the future development of this phenomenon among employees. In this way, a correct selection process will allow the incorporation of a suitable candidate and will have repercussions on their future performance. When we talk about a correct selection process, we are talking about a process that takes into account both the needs of the job, the needs of the worker and the needs of the organization.

Good people management involves keeping workloads up to date according to the type of tasks being carried out and taking into account the importance of the leader in minimising the impact of Boreout on the company. It is a guarantee of health in the company to keep the worker motivated and to be able to influence his activity in a positive way.