What exactly is boreout?
According to INC.com, this term refers to a psychological state of an employee who experiences long-term and extreme boredom at work. While burnout most often stems from stress, overwork and tension, boreout has its origins in boredom, apathy, and the impossibility of working on interesting projects. The employee faces no challenges, performs only routine tasks, and gradually falls into apathy, frustration, mental dullness and even dejection.
The result is a dissatisfied employee who doesn't develop, shows no effort to work innovatively or creatively, and may, out of sheer boredom, either leave your company or completely lose interest in their work.
The risk of the boreout phenomenon is greatest in extremely routine and rigid work environments where employees sense their work has no deeper meaning.
Signs to watch out for
Here are some signs which may indicate subordinates are excessively bored at work:
- Working much too slowly. A typical sign of excessive boredom is that even basic routine tasks take employees a surprisingly long time to complete. Their enthusiasm for work and actual ability to work gradually atrophy and diminish due to boredom.
- Extreme difficulty coping with any change. Very few people love change. However, individuals who are bored and accustomed to doing only the most routine tasks gradually develop a strong aversion to any change whatsoever. Any obstacle, shift or challenge therefore becomes highly problematic for them.
- Higher employee absenteeism. Similar to burnout, boreout can lead to increased sickness and absence among employees.
- Lack of employee development and disinterest in it. Employees who are extremely bored make no progress. They do not learn or develop in any way, and gradually lose all interest in these matters.
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