Sometimes, an employee doesn't leave because they don't like their job. They leave because they are simply exhausted.
When people are constantly overworked, underpaid, and ignored, even the most committed employee can eventually reach their limit
Some months ago, I referred an applicant to an employer.
Recently, she sent me a message saying she was open to another opportunity.
I was surprised.
I asked her, “Aren’t you employed already?”
She said she was, but she was tired.
The role was supposed to be a shift job, but she was working almost like it was a full-time, round-the-clock position. She had very little time to rest and only got to go home once every two weeks.
Whenever she raised her concerns, she was told they were “working on employing more people.”
Months passed.
Nothing changed.
Her salary remained the same, the workload remained heavy, and she eventually became exhausted. She even told me she had started visiting the hospital more often, something she hadn't experienced before.
This is not okay.
People are not machines
You cannot continuously overwork people, ignore their concerns, and still expect them to perform at their best.
Employees have limits.
They need adequate rest, fair compensation, support, and an environment where their concerns are taken seriously.
When people feel valued, they are more likely to give their best.
But when they constantly feel used, ignored, or taken for granted, something eventually changes.
They may lose motivation.
Their performance may suffer.
Or they may simply start looking for a way out.
What employers need to understand
If your business needs more people, hire more people.
If the workload has increased, address it.
If employees are consistently working beyond what was agreed, don't ignore it.
You cannot solve an understaffing problem by exhausting the few people you already have.
And you shouldn't wait until your best employees resign before you realize there was a problem.
Final Thought
If you want people to give more, create an environment that supports them.
You can't demand overperformance while providing an environment that leads to exhaustion.
People are not machines. Treat them like people.
