WORKPLACE COUNSELLING AS A REMEDY FOR BURNOUT:
A CASE STUDY OF OPERATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION SECTOR
RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES IN MIDLANDS REGION OF ZIMBABWE

WORKPLACE COUNSELLING AS A REMEDY FOR BURNOUT:
A CASE STUDY OF OPERATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION SECTOR
RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES IN MIDLANDS REGION OF ZIMBABWE

SHEPHERD SHUMBA

The study investigated whether workplace counselling was a remedy for burnout
which operational nongovernmental organisation (NGO) employees experience. The
study was prompted by the fact that in Zimbabwe there is no recommended solution
to the problem of burnout. This study was premised on the qualitative research design
rooted in the interpretivist paradigm and was conducted in four operational NGOs
responding to humanitarian emergencies in Midlands Region of Zimbabwe. The
sample was made up of 8 participants from management, 22 employees from field
staff to get a total of 30 participants purposively sampled. Data were generated
through open ended questionnaires, interviews, observation and document analysis.
Ethical considerations were met through seeking permission and informed consent
from the selected NGOs and participants. Grounded theory was used as the basis for
the analysis. The results were centred on four themes which were causes of burnout,
current methods being used to prevent and treat burnout and their shortfalls and
counselling as a means to deal with burnout. The findings showed that participants
knew what burnout is and indicated that it is characterised by exhaustion, lack of
enthusiasm and motivation and feeling 'drained. Findings on causes of burnout
indicated that overworking and irrational thinking were some of the major causes of
burnout. The research results also indicated that burnout negatively affects
employees, resulting in diminished accomplishments, reduced efficacy, absenteeism,
physical illness, reduced commitment and professionalism. On current methods of
treatment of burnout, results indicate that employees largely rely on generic
counselling, natural approach and medication. However, participants pointed out that
burnout cannot be treated by medicine since it is not an infectious illness. Moreso,
drugs cannot change irrational thinking that promotes burnout and drugs whip the
adrenals. Findings showed that counselling can treat burnout through behaviour
modification and change in lifestyle. Hence, it can be concluded that counseling is a
remedy for burnout. The first key recommendation is that workplace counselling
should be provided by NGOs to employees as a remedy to burnout that employees
experience and counselling should be theory driven for it to be effective and
professional. I further recommend that medical treatment be used to treat symptoms
of burnout.

ZOU

2017