Concept in Definition ABC

When a employee perform a monotonous, boring activity without any stimulus, it is very likely that emotionally you feel off. This circumstance is known as Syndrome de Boreuot, which in Spanish is sometimes translated as "annoyance labor". The Boreout Syndrome label was coined in 2007 by the Swiss Philippe Rothlin and Peter R. Werder.

Possible causes

There is no single cause that explains this phenomenon. It occurs for two main reasons: due to the characteristics of the work activity or due to the attitude of the worker.

Certain jobs are routine, repetitive, and monotonous. In this way, doing the same thing for eight hours each day over the years is hardly stimulating. Sometimes, it is not work that produces boredom, but it is the worker himself who adopts a passive attitude that ends up generating deep apathy.

Characteristic elements of the Syndrome

There are three main features of this syndrome:

1) The worker demands the minimum of himself and does what is strictly necessary so as not to lose his job,

2) there is a sensation deep with boredom and

3) there is a lack of interest. In a complementary way, the worker usually pretends that he is carrying out some activity or is dedicated to his personal affairs during the working day.

All these elements combined create a double problem: the worker is in a negative spiral and may need psychological help and, on the other hand, the company stops working properly because the worker with this syndrome is unproductive.

How to combat Boreout?

Somehow all jobs have a repetitive component. For this reason, Boreout Syndrome can occur in any circumstance. So that this does not occur, some companies have incorporated dynamic strategies so that their employees do not fall into dangerous monotony. In this sense, some departments of human Resources They incorporate all kinds of motivating activities: group workshops, dynamic and participatory talks, fostering camaraderie, meetings between employees, spaces for relaxation and, ultimately, strategies so that no employee can suffer the consequences of the Syndrome of Boreout.

Bornout and Boreout are different syndromes

Although both pathologies are related to the world of work, they are different syndromes. Bornout or "being burned" happens when the employee is subjected to a stressful situation that ends up causing anguish. Instead, Boreout is directly related to boredom and lack of activity during the workday.

Photos: Fotolia - robu_s / kharhan