Employee Burnout and Myanmar
Good Morning and Welcome to this week’s Gospel and Culture update, by Alan Vink
Employee Burnout and Myanmar
Monday 8th March, 2021
The purpose of this weekly ‘Gospel and Culture’ blog is to assist pastors and Christian leaders to quickly understand ‘key’ issues of the day and how they might intersect with the Gospel, Church and with Christianity generally. It is essentially a ‘curated’ blog that raises between one and three current issues and directs you the reader to a reliable article, podcast and/or a website for further reading. It is my contribution to help us ‘think Christianly’ and to develop a Christian world-view. Jesus prayed for us in John 17, “I’m not asking you, Father, to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one………make them holy by your truth”.
Employee Burnout in NZ
POV. This is a huge issue folks. It doesn’t sound good does it and frankly it isn’t good for anyone that has experienced long term stress that then lead’s to a burnout experience. Personally I brushed up to it many years ago and that was bad enough but thankfully was able to avoid a full blown burnout experience. And here’s the thing Pastor, according to the CoGo research referenced in this excellent article we are a group at greater risk (along with doctor’s) and that is somewhat ironic if you think about that for a few moments.
I think there is a wonderful pastoral opportunity right here. If 23% of employees in NZ feel burnt out at work then we have approximately that number of people sitting in front of us every Sunday. That being the case what are we doing pastorally to support these folks? The first thing is to try and identify them. That is tricky because most people are very reluctant to admit chronic stress so you may have to do a little investigation by stealth. What teaching in scripture is useful and healing for people heading toward burnout? Have you thought about that?
Let’s probe this a little further. Why is the pastoral vocation itself so stressed these days? Lot’s of good studies bare that reality out? Why are you so stressed?
“According to Suzi McAlpine, a Nelson-based executive coach, burnout is on the rise in New Zealand workplaces, with the biggest study here (by Cogo) revealing that 23 per cent of 7500 employees feel burnt out at work very often or always, while another 44 per cent feel burnt out sometimes. Despite a growth in wellbeing programmes in workplaces, McAlpine argues we have a culture of overwork. We’re also ashamed or embarrassed to admit we’re burnt out, and usually soldier on”.
Who is more likely to suffer burnout? “If you’re a doctor, lawyer, teacher, “helping’’ professional or senior executive, you’re more prone to burnout than those in other roles. McAlpine says studies show overwhelmingly that those professions are more at risk, while high achievers are also more vulnerable”.
Myanmar – Fact Sheet from the BBC
Here is a quick ‘fact sheet’ about the coup in Myanmar.
There are NO copyright restrictions on this email update. Got some feedback about this Update, or anything in the news? Would you like us to cover a story then drop me a note at alan.vink@leadershipworx.org.nz Alan is the Director of LeadershipWorx and writes a letter to Pastors here on leadership and church life issues every Thursday.
Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.
