I can't work under this stress

What the talk is about

Tanja Loktionova talks about professional burnout against the backdrop of the difficult year 2020: the pandemic, the shift to remote work and the extra stress in teams. She explains that burnout is a prolonged anxious or depressive state that a person links to work; a company or manager can make it worse but is never the only cause. The speaker gives a checklist of early signs: constant fatigue, sleep and appetite problems, irritability, falling productivity, lateness, reluctance to turn on video, frequent illness. At-risk groups include the most engaged employees, leads, mentors, parents and freelancers. What to do: become aware of your feelings, seek a therapist or psychiatrist, rest and look after your body. For employers she suggests surveys, fewer calls and real support for staff. Useful for employees and managers of game teams.