IMPACT: International Journal of Research in
Business Management (IMPACT: IJRBM)
ISSN(E): 2321-886X; ISSN(P): 2347-4572
Vol. 2, Issue 1, Jan 2014, 43-62
© Impact Journals
“ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND JOB BURNOUT – A REVIEW”
BELIAS DIMITRIOS
1
& VARSANIS KONSTANTINOS
2
1
University of Thessaly, Karyes, Trikala, Greece
2
School of Management and Economics, Department of Business Administration, Technological Education
Institute of Western Macedonia, Kozani, Greece
ABSTRACT
Today, in the era of global economic recession due to the recent crisis, the main roots of work stress are feelings
of insecurity and threat on behalf of employee. This is because these factors can very easily lead to a point of fear and
panic. But especially these days, stress at work cannot be analyzed separately and independently of other factors.
Most employees experiencing bitterness and frustration and scientists believe that there is a strong evidence of increased
pressure that may lead to burnout syndrome. The syndrome does not appear suddenly as an acute disorder or stroke.
Instead, it is a problem which occurs over time, if the conditions entailing persist and torment the person. Every job
position involves certain forms of behavior that is expected to be “exhibited” by the person who works in a certain sector.
Things are not quite as simple as they seem at first, because specified forms of behavior are not always clear and
unambiguous and are often contradictory. The “exercise” of a role within an organization can be linked to stress when
requirements and expectations of the individual are in conflict to the requirements and expectations of the organization.
But strategies of organizational culture may help to overcome such situations and may help employees to reduce the level
of stress in their job.
KEYWORDS: Organizational Culture, Job Burnout, Burnout Syndrome
INTRODUCTION
Burnout Syndrome applies to all employees. It refers to psycho-emotional conflict between human existence and
the object of his work. Within his working environment, the person is often alienation due to values, dignity, spirit and
desires. It is a syndrome of emotional, physical and mental fatigue and is the reaction of employee’s chronic interpersonal
stress of work which is defined by three parameters: cynicism, exhaustion and ineffectiveness. The research and
understanding of the syndrome are important, because failure to address leads to low efficiency of the employee, but also
to psychological, physical and spiritual effects on the person which shouldn’t be overlooked. It is therefore important to
identify the factors that contribute to the development of the syndrome. The rhythms of life and economic competitiveness
lead to spread in many work contexts.
In the influence and growth of the phenomenon contributes organizational culture, a set of beliefs, values,
customs, traditions and practices which are experiences and beliefs of all members of an organization. The expectations of
the culture create standards of acceptable behavior and ways of carrying out tasks. Organizational culture is proportional to
one's personality i.e, as a person, so the organization can be described as conservative / progressive, stable / dynamic,
controlled / uncontrolled etc.
Culture affects the way in which members of an organization are linked to each other, and also their relationship
with other people who are not part of the organization. So therefore, we can associate organizational culture and job
burnout and define the assumption that “bad '” organizational culture also means increasing level of burnout syndrome.