26/10/2025

ON SUNDAY October 26, 2025 II theSunday Special

When people feel seen and

supported, productivity naturally follows.”

Burnout cannot be solved by rest alone. It requires a deeper shift both internally and systemically. “I’ve seen a growing number of employ ees struggling to maintain boundaries. “Hybrid work has created an unspoken expectation to be constantly reachable ERWK LQ WKH Ṙ FH DQG RQOLQH ,W EOXUV WKH line between professional and personal space,” Sharifah noted. She observed that a widening disconnect has emerged between what employers expect and what employees now prioritise. Flex ibility, autonomy and well-being top the list for workers, while many companies still cling to outdated models of control and presenteeism. “The recent push to return to the Ṙ FH KDV RQO\ DGGHG WR WKDW GLVFRQ tent, especially when employees have proven they can perform just as well, if not better, while working from home. It raises the question of ZKHWKHU WKHVH UHWXUQ WR Ṙ FH PDQ dates are really about productivity or about senior management feeling in control.”

The mental toll of burnout culture The pressure to stay productive has turned everyday life into a marathon and few are crossing VJG ƓPKUJ NKPG WPUECVJGF BY AQILAH NAJWA JAMALUDDIN L ONG commutes, rigid nine to-five routines and constant micromanagement are pushing Malaysian workers to the brink. At this point, burnout is no lon JHU D ÀHHWLQJ FRPSODLQW ,W KDV EHFRPH D GH¿QLQJ IHDWXUH RI WKH PRGHUQ ZRUNLQJ world. “The problem is that burnout is still seen as a personal weakness rather than a structural failure. Companies often expect individuals to self-care their way out of systemic overwork.” What is burnout?

Before individuals or organisations can WUXO\ DGGUHVV WKH LVVXH WKH\ PXVW ¿UVW recognise what burnout really means. According to the World Health Or ganisation, burnout is a condition that results from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. Once believed to be limited to hu man services, it is now recognised as a serious occupational health concern across almost every sector. It’s important to understand that while burnout stems from stress, the two are not the same. Stress is often temporary and can be eased with proper management techniques. Burnout, on the other hand, is some thing else entirely. It is the result of prolonged, unmanaged stress that ac cumulates over time until it depletes both the mind and body. Once burnout takes hold, it can not be undone by a single solution. A long holiday, slower work pace or attempts at achieving work-life balance are rarely enough.

While Covid-19 momentarily disrupted WKH WUDGLWLRQDO Ṙ FH ODQGVFDSH SURPSWLQJ a wave of flexibility and remote work, many companies have since reverted to their pre-pandemic ways. As the world recovers, it begs the ques tion: Did we learn nothing from 2020? According to the Wellness at Work report, employee burnout in Malaysia rose sharply from 58% in 2022 to 67% in 7KH ¿JXUHV DUH PRUH WKDQ DODUPLQJ 7KH\ UHÀHFW DQ XUJHQW QHHG IRU PHQWDO health support and meaningful reform in workplace culture. Millennials are the hardest hit, with 69% reporting burnout, followed closely by Gen Z at 64%. The youngest generations are also the most emotionally exhausted. Sharifah Hani, a Malaysian career strategist, WOSSO Fellow and SDG 8 advocate with more than eight years of experience across the public, private and social sectors, explained that the issue runs deeper than surface-level stress. “Many clients come to me for career transitions because they have reached a breaking point,” she shared.

Burnout is not an individual flaw — it’s a collective crisis.”

Sharifah