Employees' and Managers' Well-being: Chapter 3 (Burnout Questionnaire)

Dear listeners!

In this episode, I dive into a topic that’s both technical and deeply human: how we measure burnout.

You’ve probably heard of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) - it’s the most widely used tool out there. But is it really the best option? Drawing on critiques by Kristensen and colleagues (2005), I explore why the MBI might not give us a coherent or actionable picture of burnout. Its three dimensions - emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and reduced personal accomplishment—are measured independently, even though burnout is defined as the simultaneous presence of all three. This mismatch between concept and measurement can lead to confusion and questionable conclusions.

Instead, I talk about why I prefer the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). It’s clear, research-backed, and openly accessible. More importantly, it focuses on emotional exhaustion, which many agree is the core of burnout.

I also touch on an important ethical question: how do we approach burnout assessments at work without stigmatising individuals? I argue for anonymous, organisation-wide surveys - ideally on a quarterly basis - as a way to surface problems early, reduce bias, and promote real dialogue.

This episode is for anyone interested in HR, leadership, or just better understanding the people around you.

Give it a listen - and let me know what you think.

 

Best

Eugene (Yevgen)

PS. Our book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-56615-8

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