Recently I heard one of the most horrific stories a burnout expert can hear.
My boss doesn’t give a damn if I’m overworked.
My boss negates my ideas about our work.
My boss tells me to just do it when I’m already so overloaded.
To say that I was stunned is an understatement.
I had no idea that so much toxicity is still pervasive in our country’s workplaces.
You could say I am naïve, but with all the science out there that shows how stress kills, I am surprised.
First of all, burnout is defined by the World Health Organization as chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.
Burnout is a crisis state, to which our natural human reaction is an emotional one, based on the fight-flight-or-freeze part of the brain, the Amygdala..
The Amygdala is not designed to be firing 24×7. When the stress hormone, cortisol remains high long term, our bodies and minds rebel with the following conditions:

• High blood pressure
• Coronary artery disease
• Mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion
• Reduced cognition
• Decreased intrinsic motivation
• And many other reactions

Then mistakes start to happen and so do irritability, mood swings, and angry outbursts.
Furthermore, according to the research of John Pencavel, a Stanford University economics professor, “found that productivity per hour declines sharply when a person works more than 50 hours a week. After 55 hours, productivity drops so much that putting in any more hours would be pointless. And, those who work up to 70 hours a week are only getting the same amount of work done as those who put in the 55.” 
What can we do?
This person’s culture clearly needs an overhaul. But the leadership does not see it. As long as toxic cultures permeate, the suffering will not stop.
Obviously, this person’s job satisfaction is at zero and he is already planning his exit. That is the impact of all this toxic workplace behavior – ATTRITION. Workers are speaking with their pink slips.
If you abuse me, I’m leaving.
What happens then? Productivity actually wanes and so does the bottom line.
Leaders, it’s time for you to cultivate workplaces that work – with purpose, empathy and a culture of well-being.