WHO 2019 definition – occupational experience characterized by:

1. Exhaustion (feelings of energy depletion)
2. Cynicism – increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism related to one’s job
3. Reduced professional efficacy

The MBI-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) was published, followed by other versions, including one for teachers and one for medical personnel (MBI-MP). Gives scores for each of the 3 fields. No cut offs, just a continuum, although higher scores across all 3 would clearly fit with the WHO definition.

Attempts have been made to use the tool to then define or screen for burnout. But WHO never called it a disease or disorder, but “a legitimate occupational experience”.

Better to talk about the actual feelings – Overextended, Ineffective, Disengaged – cf Engaged – high scores across all 3 fields.

Organizations should not use the MBI in isolation. Other tools exist such as Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS), which looks at workplace culture in terms of workload, control, reward, community, fairness, values.

[Harvard Business Review 2021]

Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT)? 2 forms – core dimensions and secondary dimensions.