Once-rare occurrences will become increasingly common

Dec 7, 2011 15:03 GMT  ·  By

Experts at the University of California in Berkeley announce in a new study that empathy burnout at the workplace will make itself apparent increasingly often in the United States, particularly because of the mounting financial crisis.

The condition's name is self-explanatory. People such as clerks, doctors and firemen literally burn out on the job. It used to be that individuals who did so left of their own accord, but job insecurity is making many burn out, but stay.

Often, such employees engage in distancing and dehumanizing behaviors in order to safeguard themselves from being overwhelmed by the demands of their jobs. This rapidly leads to emotional exhaustion and chronic stress.

Heavy caseloads, workplace conflicts, injuries, and low salaries, are just some of the factors that are also promoting empathy fatigues in several employee categories.