How AI is Actively Addressing the UK’s Growing Problem With Employee Burnout

As many as 91% of workers in the UK reported ‘high or extreme’ stress over the past year, with one in five taking time off due to mental health struggles linked to workplace pressures. 

To make matters worse, London recently topped the list of the world’s ‘most burnt-out cities,’ which was compiled based on research surrounding 30 locations where users most frequently used Google to run queries related to burnout symptoms and coping with burnout at work. 

There are many reasons why workers in the UK and London experience severe levels of burnout at work. Factors surrounding inaccuracies in the recruitment process and inefficiencies in onboarding new recruits can all lead to a misalignment of skills and a sense of disengagement that could harm productivity.

Because burnout is so closely linked to feeling overwhelmed at work, adopting supportive technologies to identify the most appropriate hires and to upskill them accordingly is essential for businesses seeking to maintain a happy workforce. 

While this is easier said than done, artificial intelligence is emerging in a way that can carry a positive impact on fighting burnout. 

AI has been a transformative technology in the HR landscape, with 68% of industry professionals using artificial intelligence tools in their roles, making them the second most likely to do so among 12 other sectors and professions, according to research. 

But how is AI preventing burnout by supporting new efficiencies in HR? Let’s take a deeper look at the wider impact of the technology and the role that automation will play in supporting an engaged workforce: 

Matchmaking Candidates to Companies

One major challenge that UK employers face stems from identifying candidates with the right blend of talent and soft skills for their prospective roles. 

With the benefit of artificial intelligence, employers can rely on deeper psychometric and skills assessments that use natural language processing (NLP) to assess CVs and automatically shortlist the strongest candidates without the risk of unconscious bias entering the fray. 

Firms like Fountain have adopted AI assistants to support high-volume hiring, which automates repetitive processes to offer objective feedback on candidates, allowing prospective hires to engage in their native language. 

This opens the door to successful hiring overseas, using employer of record (EOR) services like Remote People to bridge skill gaps by broadening access to talent pools. 

Fountain CEO Sean Behr has hailed the efficiency and effectiveness of using AI agents to support talent acquisition, claiming that the company’s recruitment tool works in a “bias-free way.” 

Bespoke Onboarding Processes

Artificial intelligence can also be a transformative tool during the onboarding process for workers, who can become better acclimatised to their roles and more competent at handling their daily tasks in a way that can prevent burnout. 

AI automatically allocates training programs to support the personal development of employees based on the evaluation of papers and tests. The technology can also offer relevant skill set information based on job descriptions, helping to improve engagement and productivity. 

With the help of machine learning, AI tools can monitor the competencies of new hires and adapt their onboarding programs based on company benchmarks that provide insights into what may be areas for improvement. 

Around-The-Clock Support

Tools can also assist with employee onboarding concerns by offering around-the-clock support that anticipates common queries and questions as a first point of contact. 

The deployment of AI agents can not only help new recruits gain quick solutions to possible issues, but it can also save hours of time for managers who may otherwise be taken away from their own workloads to assist new hires. 

IBM data shows that the time-saving potential of AI assistants can be significant, with the watsonx Assistant reducing the time HR employees spend answering common questions by 75%. 

With the help of natural language processing (NLP), more businesses can deploy AI systems to collect feedback and distribute answers to help keep employees on track during their first days in a new role. 

Because employee burnout can stem from long-standing competency issues that can be caused by insufficient or ineffective onboarding programs, providing a strong AI support system can empower more workers to hit the ground running when starting at a new company. 

Supporting Workplace Engagement

Artificial intelligence is already transforming the HR landscape, with the industry leaning heavily on the technology. 

As the United Kingdom continues to rank high among countries with high rates of burnout, AI could be a key tool in tackling wellness at work by providing more focused training programs and support networks to new hires while also improving the ability of employers to matchmake with candidates from around the world. 

Burnout can be a major problem for both employees and employers, but the AI boom could finally tackle these workplace challenges head-on.