DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7509-820-7-0285

BURNOUT AMONG PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION EMPLOYEES DURING THE PANDEMIC

Łukasz SKIBA

Burnout is an increasingly common phenomenon among employees. Its level is influenced, among others, by workload, competition, applying for promotion, higher salary, prestige or social respect. The recent pandemic and the widespread remote work in administration include: fear for the health and life of one's own and family members; fear of losing your job, and thus your source of income; the need to learn how to use new tools, applications, communicators; the need to reconcile many roles and the resulting responsibilities (e.g. caring for relatives - children and sick parents; caring for the home - shopping, cleaning, cooking, washing, etc.) professional work.
Purpose: The aim of this article (in the theoretical part) will be to present the essence of burnout syndrome, along with its most common causes, symptoms, as well as how to prevent and counteract it. On the other hand, in the empirical part of the study, the level of burnout of the described professional group during the partial lockdown during the covid- 19 pandemic will be determined on the example of research conducted in a local government administration unit.
Design/methodology/approach: The research method was a survey, a sent (e-mail) survey technique, and a survey questionnaire was the tool.
Findings: It has been reported that 27.3% of the respondents who are employees of a public administration unit are at the 5th (maximum) level of occupational burnout; 21.2% on level 4; and 30.3% at level 3 (feeling burned out). The main reason for burnout is: overwork + excess duties + professional stagnation = 78.8% of respondents' indications. On the other hand, the basic factors minimizing occupational burnout are: relaxation / rest (more often indicated by women), and hobbies / interests (favored by men).
Research limitations: The research was carried out using an electronic form sent by the secretariat via e-mail, to which only volunteers replied.
Practical implications: Counteracting burnout in the studied unit and helping to identify, prevent or counteract it in others.
Social implications: Work-live balance ("healthier" relationships in families); reduction of outlays for the treatment of employees and costs related to their absenteeism improving the atmosphere at work; quality of work (including customer service).

Keywords: burnout, public administration, covid-19 pandemic

pages: 285-293, Published: 2021, online: 2021