Burn out checklist - Recharge360

Recognizing burn out? High time for action

Burnout is not hype. It is a structural problem in the workplace. More than 1.6 million Dutch people suffer from burnout symptoms and the costs for employers run into billions every year. Yet we often see it too late. While with the right signals and tools you can intervene much earlier. Read on and take a look at the burn out checklist.

As an HR manager or business owner, the ball is in your court. Because one thing is clear: If you don't pick up the signals, no one will.

That's why: this blog. With a practical burn out checklist, insight into risk factors and smart actions to prevent burn out. No fancy stuff, but proven steps. All in a direct, personal style - just the way you work.

So: take control. Because prevention is not only better than cure - it is also many times cheaper and more humane.

The burn out checklist: these signs you should take seriously

Burnout creeps in. Often it starts subtly. But if you look closely, you can see it happening. Below is a concrete burnout checklist - especially for HR and executives - that will help you quickly recognize the first signs.

✅ Burn out checklist (for HR and business owners):

Constant fatigue - Your employee is tired, even after a weekend. No energy. No focus.
Cynicism or distance - Previously engaged colleagues suddenly react resignedly or negatively.
Irritable or emotional - Short fuse, crying fits, inexplicable frustration.
Short-term absenteeism and vague complaints - Headaches, poor sleep, stomach aches. Sick days pile up.
Long recovery after working hours - Need more than an hour to recover. Even on weekends.
Social withdrawal behavior - No more coffee mornings or team lunches.
No more energizers - Everything takes energy, nothing gives it back. Battery remains empty.

📊 Fact: An average burnout lasts 9 months. Taking action every week too late costs you tons of money as well as human capital.

What to do.

Recognize multiple signs? Take action. Talk to your employee. Openly, without judgment. Not a performance review but a normal human conversation.

What really is burnout?

Burnout is not "equally tired" or "busy at work." It is the moment when a person has played his or her internal battery completely flat. Literally and figuratively.

Burnout according to WHO:

"A work-related state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion due to prolonged stress, characterized by exhaustion, distance from work and reduced effectiveness."

In short, everything takes effort. A person feels burned out. Nothing works anymore. Even simple tasks are too much.

This is how it emerges - in 4 stages:

Passion
Giving everything. Wanting a lot. Not setting limits. Not taking a break.
Chronic stress
Too much for too long. Sleep problems. Irritability. Initial physical complaints.
Overvoltage
Nothing helps anymore. Mistakes pile up. Shortcomings begin.
Burnout
The whole thing folds. Completely exhausted. Unable to work anymore.

Often you don't see it on the outside. Burnout builds up over months. Under the radar. Until it goes wrong.

📊 Did you know that burnout results in an average of 290 days of absenteeism? That's 10 months of no commitment. And yes, that costs serious money - as well as an employee you wanted to retain.

How burnout occurs (and why you should intervene before stage 4)

Burnout is not "bad luck" or something that suddenly happens. It is a process. And that process starts months before. As an HR or entrepreneur, you should not react only when someone drops out, but during the build-up. Because then you can still prevent something from happening.

Below you can see how that process usually goes:

The 4 stages of burnout

Phase 1 - Driven & loyal
Employee is enthusiastic, ambitious, works hard. But never says no. Breaks are skipped, days off postponed.

Stage 2 - Chronically overburdened
Work piles up. Resting moments are non-existent. Sleep problems, stress symptoms, decreased focus and emotional swings rear their ugly heads.

Stage 3 - Overworked
The person no longer manages to recover. A person is constantly tired, forgets things, becomes short-tempered or withdraws. Sick days begin.

Stage 4 - Burnout
Complete exhaustion. Working is no longer possible. Sometimes not even getting up. The body says, "now it's done."

📌 Tip: Use the burn out checklist from Chapter 2 as a signal meter. If someone is in stage 2, you should already take action. Don't wait until phase 4. Then you will be too late.

5. Risk factors: this makes workplace burnout greater

Burnout rarely arises from one thing. It's a sum of structural stress + not enough recovery. And much of that happens in the workplace.

Here are the biggest risks - and what to watch out for.

⚠️ Burnout triggers in the workplace:

Excessive workload - Deadlines upon deadlines. Always too little time or people.
Little autonomy - No influence on your day. Everything is imposed.
Lack of appreciation - Never a compliment. Only criticism.
Unclear goals - Vagueness. Expectations constantly changing.
Bad atmosphere or unsafe team - Gossip. Bullying. Fear culture.
Poor work-life balance - Always "on," even after working hours.
Emotional strain - Constantly caring for others, without space for yourself.

Fact: 42% of the Dutch experience too little autonomy at work. And that is exactly where burnout begins.

👉 Do you recognize several of these factors within your organization? Then it's time to take a critical look at workload, culture and communication.

And: discuss this in teams. Let people themselves indicate where there are problems. That gives insight and ownership.

As an HR or business owner, what can you do to prevent burnout?

Prevention is always better than cure - especially with burnout. As soon as someone drops out, you are months away. So the trick is to spot the signs earlier and start working structurally on vitality and mental health.

It starts with the question: how healthy is your work culture really? Burnout prevention is not in a fruit basket or yoga class, but in policies, behaviors and daily choices.

What works:

Greater autonomy and ownership
Let employees influence their workday. Through flexible forms of work, hybrid work or their own interpretation of goals. That gives confidence and reduces stress.

Clear frameworks, achievable goals
Vague expectations create turmoil. Provide focus, priorities and a clear work structure. Not everything has to be now. Everything clear, though.

Normalize the conversation about workload
Stress is not a weakness. Make it a topic of discussion in 1-on-1s, team meetings and in your culture. Recharge360 helps HR teams with exactly this kind of activation and awareness - without becoming pedantic.

Train executives in signaling
Many burnouts occur invisibly. Managers play a key role. With Recharge360, you teach managers to recognize what really matters: behavior, recovery and energy.

Offer vitality as a regular part of work
With Recharge360, you have a complete, scalable platform in your hands - including Vitascan, kick-off weeks, coaching and daily micro-interventions. Easy to implement, proven effective. And it unburdens HR.

Make help visible and approachable
Show what can be done. From coaching to check-ins. Or just a safe place to say something. Vitality should not be a project, but a choice that comes back every day.

👉 Want to discover what Recharge360 can do for your organization?
Request a no-obligation demo via this page.

What if someone does drop out with burnout?

Sometimes it happens anyway. Someone flips out. Completely empty. Then it's important what you do as an organization. For that person, as well as for the team around them.

Show calmness and confidence
No pressure. No guilt. Let it be known that recovery is paramount. And that you're there. Recharge360 guides HR teams in these kinds of conversations - down-to-earth, humane and effective.

Engage the right professionals
Work with the company physician and ensure access to counseling that suits the employee. Consider coaching, vitality support or guidance through the Recharge360 platform.

Reflect on the work situation
What contributed to this situation? Work pressure? Role ambiguity? Lack of recovery? Recharge360 provides insight into energy, stress and risk points via the Vitascan and team reports - even before people drop out.

Reintegration: not a script, but customization
Let people return at their own pace. Start small. Offer coaching. And give room for doubt. With Recharge360, you can bring in coaching that helps employees return with confidence.

Keep the team connected
Inform colleagues carefully, with the employee's permission. And make sure the team moves with you, without overcharging them. Good communication prevents tension.

Use this as a tipping point
Burnout does not have to be a breaking point. On the contrary, it can be a signal that things must change - and can be done better. Reflect, learn, and make vitality structural.

👉 See what a structural vitality policy concretely delivers on the results page.
Or discover how to sustainably empower employees on our product page.

How do you make burnout negotiable in your team?

The best burnout prevention starts with the conversation. Not once a year, but structurally. And no, it doesn't have to be tough. It does have to be real. Because many employees walk on too long out of loyalty, fear or simply because they think, "It's part of the job."

As an HR or executive, you can make a difference through stress, mental energy and workload normal topics to make. Here are a few ways that do work:

Use the right tone

Don't start with numbers or absenteeism. Start with: "How are you really doing?" Or, "What is costing you the most energy right now?" And then listen. Without judgment. That alone lowers the threshold for sharing.

Make space in consultations

A work meeting doesn't have to be all about deliverables. Take 10 minutes from time to time to gauge within the team, "How are we doing?" Tools like a simple energy meter or stress check can help with this. Recharge360 uses a daily check-in feature through the app, which allows you to spot trends without it feeling pedantic.

Deploy visual signaling

Sometimes an image is stronger than words. Think of a "burnout thermometer" on the intranet, or a recognizable signaling circle in the workspace. Recharge360 offers ready-made visuals you can use internally - so everyone learns to recognize the phases faster.

Let people discover for themselves where they stand

Not everyone recognizes their own limits. With tools like the Vitascan from Recharge360 employees can easily measure their own energy balance. Not a hard diagnosis, but an eye-opener - and an entry point for conversation.

👉 Tip: combine signaling with action. Notice that things are starting to get sticky in a team? Then start a Recharge Week together to put vitality on the agenda. That way you prevent a good conversation from remaining just words.

Preventing burnout? Here's how Recharge360 makes a difference

Preventing burnout requires more than a loose initiative. It requires rhythm. Structure. An approach that is measurable, supported and practical - even in busy times.

This is exactly why more and more companies are choosing Recharge360.

What makes Recharge360 different?

Quick start, without HR overload
With our Plug & Play approach, you'll have a complete vitality campaign up and running in one week. From onboarding to activation. Everything taken care of.
Insight through the Vitascan
In less than 5 minutes, employees and HR gain insight into vitality, workload and ability to recover. Ideal as a starting point and as a measurement over time.
Team-based activation
No separate e-learnings, but daily new challenges, short videos, team assignments and reminders via the Recharge app. Approachable and fun to do - especially for teams that don't start out on their own.
Coaching & workshops as needed
Want more depth? Then we expand with coaching, theme sessions or a live Recharge Kick-off. On location or digitally.
Everything measurable and flexible
HR gains direct insight into participation, themes and trends via the dashboard. That way you can make targeted adjustments and show what the results are.

💡 Want to know more about what Recharge360 gives you? Then check out the results page.

Or see directly how it works on the product page.

👉 Ready to get ahead of burnout - not manage it afterwards?
Then request a no-obligation demo now via this link Or contact us at recharge360.com/contact.

Preventing burnout starts today

Burnout does not come from weakness. It comes from overwork. And it happens faster than you think - especially in ambitious organizations where the pace is fast and the bar is even higher.

As an HR manager or entrepreneur, this is where your opportunity lies. By identifying problems early on, starting the conversation and discussing work pressure, you can prevent absenteeism. But only if you really work at it.

Use the burn out checklist. Share it in your team. Deploy the right tools. And build a culture where vitality is not a project, but part of how you work together.

Recharge360 is here to help you do just that. Practical, scalable and hassle-free. So that you have time for what really counts: people who are comfortable in their own skin, with energy and commitment.

Ready to tackle burnout before it comes?

🚀 Discover how Recharge360 helps your organization prevent burnout, measure vitality and activate employees.

👉 Request a demo or view how it works.

📬 Prefer to spar? You can always email or call.