Unlike burnout, which is associated with mental and physical exhaustion at work and recognized as an “occupational disease” by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022, burn on is a state of “chronic depressive exhaustion” that mainly affects people in professions demanding long working hours and responsibilities over other employees. Signs of the syndrome are also common in people without fixed working hours who “care” for others, such as in nursing and medicine.
The syndrome arises when an individual continues to work intensely and with dedication, even while exhausted. This behavior is driven by a strong sense of responsibility, perfectionism, or fear of failure. While burnout patients need to take medical leave from work, those with burn on continue working.
The signs of burn on are subtle and can be mistaken for excessive dedication to work. The person becomes obsessed with work, neglecting basic needs, personal relationships, and enjoyable activities. Additionally, other basic symptoms of the syndrome include a constant state of fatigue and extreme suffering, without necessarily leading to a total collapse.
Ignoring exhaustion opens the possibility for burn on to become burnout – an emotional disorder that brings symptoms such as frequent headaches, feelings of defeat and hopelessness, high blood pressure, altered heart rates, and gastrointestinal problems.
Although burnout has been recognized as a work-related disease by the WHO, burn on is still not accepted by the international medical community. However, it is essential for organizations to be alert to the signs, as they can cooperate with preventive measures to support employees’ mental health.
Burn on syndrome is a topic that deserves to remain on employers’ radar, despite not being recognized by the WHO. It is important for employers to be aware of this condition and take measures to prevent its onset in the workplace. After all, employees’ mental health is crucial for the success of any organization. Prevention and care for mental health in the workplace are essential to avoid the emergence of such syndromes. Awareness and education on the topic are the first steps towards a healthier and more productive work environment.