BURNOUT THE “NECESSITY” OF LEGAL REGULATION
BURNOUT THE “NECESSITY” OF LEGAL REGULATION

Summary/Abstract: Workplace bullying and burnout are two interconnected problems that affect the mental health and well-being of employees. Burnout is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged exposure to stress, in this case present at work. Symptoms of burnout include extreme fatigue, cynicism towards the workplace, and a decrease in work productivity, lack of perspective and ultimately disinterest in the workplace and colleagues. Burnout does not mean stress even though exposure to continuous stress leads to burnout. At the same time, Burnout does not mean depression. This is a psychological response to chronic work-related stress, while depression is a more complex mental health disorder that can occur independently of workplace stress. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition: DSM-5, it is not coded as a mental disorder. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that burnout refers specifically to phenomena in the professional context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life.Measures to prevent moral harassment in the workplace can consist of clear policies such as implementing internal anti-harassment procedures and safe reporting channels for employees, free from retaliation; psychological support in the sense of offering support resources, such as counseling or support groups and training in the field of harassment prevention by educating employees and managers about harassment and burnout, in order to build a healthier work environment. In conclusion, considering all these aspects, we believe that burnout at work is a serious problem that can affect the mental health of employees and the performance of organizations, but despite this, legal regulation of burnout is not necessary, which is why the draft law on professional burnout at work was recently rejected in the Romanian Senate.

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