By Aerol John Pateña | Philippine News Agency
MANILA — A labor group is urging the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to issue a directive that will provide protection for workers experiencing “workplace burnout,” which the World Health Organization (WHO) now classifies as a legitimate medical condition.
“There should now be a department order from DOLE that spells out the rules and regulations for the protection of workers from this condition,” said Alan Tanjusay, spokesperson of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Tuesday.
The TUCP spokesperson further stated that workers suffering from burnout must be provided social protection insurance benefits by agencies such as the Social Security System, PhilHealth, and the Employment Compensation Commission.
Furthermore, employers must provide recreational programs and incentives for their employees through routine assignments to different branches, attending seminars and retraining on new work knowledge and skills as part of their wellness activities to address work-related burnout.
“Employees should also be treated to routine paid rest and recreation activities,” said Tanjusay.
For his part, Francis Chua, chairman emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), said most companies in the country provide mandatory force leaves for employees to ensure work-life balance in the workplace.
“In most companies, we have mandatory force leaves. That means, if employees have accumulated so much sick leave and vacation leave, they have to use it whether they like it or not,” Chua said in a text message.
Employers likewise provide job rotation to train employees acquire additional skills and prevent burnout.
The WHO has clarified that burnout is classified as an occupational phenomenon under the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).
It defined workplace burnout as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.
Among its symptoms include feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s jobs or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and reduced professional efficacy.
“Burnout refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life,” according to the WHO.
