Are your employees suffering rust-out?

Do some of your employees look bored? Chances are they may be suffering from untreated rust-out, the exact opposite of burn-out. And the effects can be worse than suffering from overwork.

Research done by occupational psychologist Sandi Mann has found a third of workers in the US find their jobs are boring. Unchecked boredom can lead to depression and even physical symptoms.

The causes are paperwork overload, endless meetings, repetitive tasks and the de-skilling of once-complex jobs. Two groups in particular are at risk. Middle managers whose careers have ground to a halt and younger workers who are stuck in jobs from which they once would have been promoted.

Mann’s advice is to make sure that people are in jobs suited to their skills. You also need to build a workplace with creative tension, because some stress is good.