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Kansas State University
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Source:  Ronald Downey, K-State professor of psychology

1 Wrap
2 Actualities

You have selected a report on job burnout.  This report contains one wrap and two actualities.

WRAP 1: A K-State expert in work relations talks about the physical effects of job burnout.
TIME:  55 Seconds

SUGGESTED INTRO: Job stress is a temporary situation, and can happen to anyone.  However job burnout is a chronic problem that if left unresolved, can have adverse affects on the body.  An expert at K-State tells about the physical effects of job burnout and what we can do to help alleviate it.  Lanice Thomson reports. . .

At one point or another we all experience job stress - a report may be due the next morning, or even a promotion may cause temporary stress in the workplace.  However, K-State psychology professor Ronald Downey says employees with job burnout are constantly under pressure, they’re never caught up at work and they’re emotionally exhausted. Downey says burnout not only affects a person mentally, but physically as well. . . .

(Downey : "High blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, stress tends to cause the problems within our bodily functions. It seems very much related to those issues.  Ulcers are a possibility, even back problems because you’re stressed, your tight, you’re unable to relax at your workplace.")

Downey says individuals can help alleviate burnout through exercise or doing things outdoors like gardening.  He adds meditation and breathing exercises ALSO help.  Lanice Thomson, Kansas State University.

 

ACTUALITY 1:  A K-State psychology professor explains the warning signs of job burnout.
TIME: 40 Seconds

We’ve all experienced job stress in one form or another, such as preparing for a big presentation or finishing up an important report.  However a K-State psychology professor says job burnout is a chronic condition in which employees feel wiped out at work, are constantly under pressure and never seem to be caught up.  Professor Ronald Downey explains some of the early warning signs of job burnout.  This sound bite is 32 seconds and the outcue is ". . .not very competent."

(Downey :32 "You just don’t have the emotional resources, the tendency especially in jobs that are service-related or work a lot with clients -- teachers, counselors -- all of a sudden begin to treat their customers, the individuals they’re servicing, as chattel.  You begin to depersonalize the people you’re working with.   Another thing is, you begin to question your capabilities to get the job done and think of yourself as not very competent.")

 

ACTUALITY 2: A K-State psychology professor explains ways individuals can help alleviate job burnout.
TIME:  12 Seconds 

Ronald Downey, a professor of psychology at K-State, explains some of the ways individuals can help alleviate job stress and burnout. This sound bite is 12 seconds and the outcue is "the problems are.")

(Downey :12 "Working in the garden, doing a variety of sort of outside activities -- that’s one way people cope with stress. Meditation, breathing exercises, reviewing what the problems are.")

Downey says in addition to workers taking an interest in their situation, employers must do the same.  Since many problems are caused by the workplace, he notes companies must take the responsibility for managing their jobs, managing the organization and ensuring the kinds of situations that create job stress are eliminated.