Feeling unstimulated and apathetic at work? You might be experiencing rustout.

Fitzsimons, Sabrina; Smith, David

Abstract

Tense, overworked employees everywhere will recognise the features of burnout: exhaustion, depersonalisation (feeling detached from others or yourself in the workplace) and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment. It happens when chronic workplace stress isn’t managed appropriately.

Citation

FITZSIMONS, S. and SMITH, D. 2025. Feeling unstimulated and apathetic at work? You might be experiencing rustout. The conversation [online], 5 August 2025. Available from: https://theconversation.com/feeling-unstimulated-and-apathetic-at-work-you-might-be-experiencing-rustout-260837

• Online Publication Date: Aug 5, 2025
• Publication Date: Aug 5, 2025
• Deposit Date: Aug 5, 2025
• Publisher: The Conversation International
• Keywords: Overwork; Employees; Burnout; Exhaustion; Depersonalisation; Chronic workplace stress
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2967116
• Publisher URL: https://theconversation.com/feeling-unstimulated-and-apathetic-at-work-you-might-be-experiencing-rustout-260837