Many professionals are drowning in work and feeling drained, according to new research from global staffing firm Robert Half. Heavier workloads due to organizations trimming their workforces to deal with impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic may be to blame.

Thirty-three per cent of workers surveyed by the firm said they are more burned out on the job today compared to a year ago.

“Of those respondents, 40 per cent pointed to having a fuller plate at work as the top reason for rising levels of fatigue,” the firm says, noting that another 49 per cent of professionals noted they are as burned out now as they were 12 months ago. Eighteen per cent reported a drop in burnout.

The survey also found that women (36 per cent) were more likely than men (31 per cent) to cite a rise in burnout.

"Organizations continue to weather the financial impact of the pandemic and in some cases are doing so with leaner teams in place," said David King, Canadian senior district president of Robert Half. "This has resulted in an increased workload for employees with many still working from home and balancing important job priorities with personal and family demands. With workers indicating they are experiencing rising levels of fatigue, managers need to work with their teams to address job burnout head on. This means helping them to not only prioritize their workloads – but also their wellbeing."