Burnout is the Most Prevalent Challenge, Inc.’s 2024 CEO Survey Finds

Burnout, defined by the World Health Organization in 2019 as an “occupational phenomenon” marked by exhaustion, decreased professional effectiveness, and feelings of negativity or detachment from one’s job, remains a significant concern in the modern workforce. According to Inc.’s 2024 CEO survey, burnout was the most prevalent challenge, with 49% of respondents observing it among their employees. Additionally, 24% mentioned “employee churn,” 14% highlighted the challenge of “rebuilding social capital” post-pandemic, and 32% cited other workforce issues. Leaders from some of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. are employing diverse strategies to address burnout.

Minnesota Ice takes a varied approach to combating burnout based on employee roles. CEO Robbie Harrell explains that, for production and manufacturing staff, the company attempts to keep work engaging by rotating tasks. Employees skilled in operating one machine are trained to handle others, breaking the monotony of routine. Even small changes, such as stepping out of the cold storage area to perform different tasks, can help mitigate burnout, he says.

For office-based employees, Harrell notes that requiring full-time office attendance has helped reestablish a sense of community and maintain a clearer division between work and personal life. The company also celebrates milestones and keeps the breakroom stocked with popular snacks to boost morale. Harrell frequently joins production staff for informal gatherings over favorite foods, like Tapatio hot sauce ramen, to maintain personal connections.

Egglife Foods, a Chicago-based company ranked No. 563 on the Inc. 5000 list, adopts a different approach. CEO David Kroll identifies several modern lifestyle factors that contribute to burnout, including excessive multitasking, constant connectivity, and poor work-life balance. The company’s commercial team, which primarily works remotely, is not required to return to the office. Kroll emphasizes that reducing long commutes can alleviate stress and prevent burnout.

To foster a cohesive team culture in a remote environment, Kroll hosts informal virtual roundtables to discuss business updates, recognize employees, and answer questions. He believes building personal connections and incorporating humor and light-heartedness in meetings are key to reducing burnout.

UWill, based in Natick, Massachusetts, and ranked No. 27 on the Inc. 5000, was established in 2019 to address the mental health crisis among college students through teletherapy and other services. Founder and CEO Michael London mentions that the company has a “no questions asked” policy regarding sick and vacation leave, and it hires proactively to prevent employee overload as the company scales.

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