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Abstract. This paper presents the results of a qualitative study that illustrates how social workers experience stress and burnout at the workplace. The participants in this study were 18 social workers employed in state institutions and NGOs in Oradea. The results show that, according to respondents, the main factors that explain burnout are : heavy caseloads, time constraints, the categories of clients with whom they work, limitations of social work interventions, lack of appreciation and reward for their work, lack of support from supervisors and colleagues, the lack of involvement in family life. The symptoms most commonly present in the case of social workers who experience burnout were : emotional and physical exhaustion, feeling overwhelmed, sleep disorders, impatience, giving up leisure activities, diminished motivation and job satisfaction. In order to prevent burnout, the solutions given by participants in the study aimed in particular at reducing workload, better time management, team cohesion support, an adequate reward for one's work, good organizational communication, supervision, opportunities for professional development. The paper concludes with a discussion of the practical implications of the results, presenting the study limitations and directions for future research.
Keywords : occupational stress, burnout, social workers, coping, supervision
Introduction
Stress in contemporary society is increasingly present in everyday life. Work often represents a real stress test, mainly caused by excessive work demands and strained relationships with coworkers or supervisors.
Being the focus of numerous research studies related to stress, another phenomenon that attracts much attention is burnout syndrome. Considered as a result of action of chronic stressors, burnout occurs increasingly in organizations. As the theoretical part of this paper will demonstrate, persons engaged in occupational activities that require intense relationships with people, are more prone to experiencing this syndrome. This category also includes social workers.
Knowing about the causes of work-related stress, specifically understanding the factors associated with burnout and its symptoms, having an accurate assessment of situation, recognizing the problem, as well as solving it using appropriate means, are essential for both the individual and the organization. The consequences of burnout cannot be ignored. These include : reduced work capacity, reduced work performance and employee health problems, lower productivity, increased absenteeism, medical expenses supported by the organization and potential conflicts between staff members (Blache...