WORKFORCE SUSTAINABILITY: HOW WORKLOAD AND MENTORING INFLUENCE BURNOUT IN RAPIDLY CHANGING ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Burnout has emerged as an increasingly significant impediment to workforce sustainability and organizational efficiency, notably within knowledge-driven environments where rapid change in technology advancement heightens employee expectations. Burnout not solely affects professional life, but also has a detrimental effect on all facets of life including personal health, familial relationships, and social interactions. This study examines the influence of workload and mentoring on burnout reactions in contemporary work environments. Incorporating insights from the fields of human resources and technology management, the study presents a conceptual framework that elucidates how the two factors collaboratively influence burnout which ultimately benefit both employee health and the sustainability of organizational performance. Applied a quantitative design, data were collected from 209 respondents through online survey with majority samples from Generation Millennials and Z. These variables were assessed utilizing validated measures, and multiple regression analysis was employed to examine the relationships. Results indicated that increased workload directly contributes to emotional exhaustion and led to burnout. In contrast, mentoring is seen as an organizational approach capable of alleviating adverse impacts through the provision of support, direction, and resource visibility as predicted by Conservation of Resource Theory. The research concludes that the integration of structured mentoring programs with workload management is vital for maintaining employee well-being and organizational success. The findings provide practical advice for corporate leaders aiming to sustain workforce adaptability amid constantly evolving environments, emphasizing the need of these younger generations to support digital transformation and sustained productivity across diverse organizations globally.