Burn-out
Is a 50-year old more likely to succumb to a burn-out?
By the end if the nineties of the last century, employees diagnosed with a burn-out had a reasonable chance to receive a working incapacity benefit until they were ready to retire. This enabled organisations to easily dispose of their older, worn out employees. The relatively high figures of burned-out workers in this age category led to the notion that a burn-out is typical for older employees. We now know that a burn-out can often be treated well. Employees suffering from a burn-out will, therefore, not easily qualify for a life-long working incapacity benefit. Nor does burn-out only apply to people of 50-plus years of age. Figures vary from study to study but it appears that in the Netherlands employees aged between 40 and 50 (with demanding jobs and young children at home) at least as often succumb to burn-out as older employees. Indeed, international research shows that especially young employees have a higher risk of experiencing a burn-out. In short, there is no clear relationship between age and burn-out risk. Myth busted!