The bore-out, Anglicism to designate the syndrome of professional exhaustion by boredom, is a psychological disorder which affects more and more employees. It is characterized by a malaise caused by the lack of professional development linked to the absence of work. This syndrome is not without consequences on health. It is important to remain vigilant in the face of situations that can lead to a bore-out and to react quickly.

Burnout can happen in two ways. When it is the consequence of overwork and stress, we speak of burnout. When it is the result of boredom at work, it is the bore-out. “In burnout, the interior empties. In the bore-out, the exterior empties ”, image Lionel Leroi-Cagniart, occupational psychologist. This syndrome is favored by professional situations that it is important not to let set in over time:

• Lack or absence of work. Being unoccupied at work for several hours a day is a situation that can lead to bore-out.
• Boring tasks. Doing only repetitive and uninteresting tasks inevitably leads to boredom and does not promote professional growth. The employee has the impression of having no added value in the company.
• Putting in the closet. The employee suddenly finds himself in a position of no interest. He is no longer or little in touch with the other employees of the company. We don’t give him any more work to do, we no longer summon him to meetings, we denigrate him. “It is a form of isolation and abandonment that leads to boredom and loneliness with pathological consequences. Filing in the closet is also a form of moral harassment at work ”, emphasizes the psychologist.
• Finding yourself in a position for which you are overqualified. Not being in a position suited to one’s skills is demeaning. Of course, we are busy, but doing uninteresting tasks, which promotes boredom and loss of self-esteem.
• To occupy a position which does not have direction or well-defined missions. It is very frustrating to perform tasks whose purpose you do not understand. The employee wonders what exactly it is for.
• Do not gain skills over the years, do not benefit from training to acquire new skills. The lack of development within a company can harm the development and well-being of the employee.

“All of these situations reflect a deleterious, even pathological, management method. They can settle in time because the organization of the company unfortunately allows it. The repeated organizational changes in companies are wreaking havoc in terms of burnout and bore-out ”, indignant the specialist.

Some signs are characteristic of bore-out:

• Being bored every day at work;
• Feeling devalued and questioning your skills;
• Leaving work early in the evening;
• Going back to work because of the lack of professional development and the fear of having nothing to do;
• Work in slow motion to keep tasks to be done throughout the day;
• Feel tired at night;
• Make colleagues believe that you like your work;

These symptoms, if they are repeated every day and become established over time, should alert people. Realizing your situation is the first step towards getting out of the bore-out.

The bore-out can have the same consequences on health as burnout, namely depression, stress, chronic fatigue, sleep disorders, anxiety, a lump in the stomach before going to work … “There is a real questioning of yourself and your own skills. Ultimately, the person who suffers from bore-out may become apathetic and no longer feel connected to others ”, points out the psychologist. In addition, there is a lack of motivation and an increased risk of addictive behavior. But that’s not all. A study published in 2010 revealed that cardiovascular risks were 2,5 times higher in people with bore-out than in others.

Employees in a bore-out situation do not dare talk about it out of shame or for fear of losing their job and consequently their salary. “Fear makes you resist. However, today the fear of losing one’s job and being unemployed is so present that employees forget their own well-being ”, notes the specialist. And yet the only way out is to talk about it.

Reporting your situation to a colleague allows you to get someone else’s point of view and get people to react. The other person can make the employee in bore-out aware that what he is going through in the company is not normal and that this must change. Being aware of your own situation allows you to put in place measures to make a difference and put an end to professional boredom. For this, it is necessary to warn his superiors of his discomfort linked to a position of no interest. In such a situation, which could lead to serious psychosocial consequences, the employer must intervene to improve the well-being of his employee. But the employer’s intervention must be more comprehensive, in particular thanks to the prevention of bore-out in consultation with employees, occupational medicine and staff representatives.

If nothing is done in the company and the situation does not improve, it is preferable for the employee in bore-out to find another job which will meet his expectations and in which he will feel good and useful.