Slack
Microsoft Teams.
Wellness Apps Miss the Point
Meditation apps don't fix feeling invisible. They ask employees to cope better, not employers to do better.
Reduce Employee Burnout Through Recognition
Burnout often starts with feeling unseen. Recognition helps people feel valued before exhaustion sets in—right inside Slack and Microsoft Teams.
What Is Employee Burnout?
Employee burnout is a state of chronic workplace stress characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and feeling ineffective. It develops when people feel overworked and underappreciated—when effort repeatedly goes unnoticed.
What Causes Employee Burnout?
Burnout isn't just about working too hard. It's about working hard without feeling valued.
-
Unsustainable workload
Too much work, not enough time. The demands never let up, and there's no light at the end.
-
Lack of recognition
Effort goes unnoticed. People wonder if their work matters. The motivation to push through fades.
-
No control
People feel powerless over their work. Decisions happen to them, not with them.
-
Isolation
No sense of community or support. People burn out faster when they feel alone.
Signs Your Team Is Burning Out
Burnout doesn't happen overnight. It builds gradually—and the warning signs are often missed until it's too late.
-
Emotional Exhaustion
People feel drained before the day starts. Energy is gone. Everything feels like a heavy lift.
-
Growing Cynicism
Negativity creeps in. People distance themselves emotionally. "Why bother?" becomes the default.
-
Declining Performance
Quality drops. Deadlines slip. People who used to excel are now just getting by.
-
Withdrawal
People stop participating. Cameras off, muted in meetings, missing from conversations.
-
Increased Absences
More sick days, more PTO requests, more people "offline." The team is running on empty.
-
Rising Turnover
Good people leave. Exit interviews mention feeling undervalued and exhausted.
Case Study
How Ndustrial Made Their Values Part of Everyday Work
Ndustrial is a platform that optimizes operations and energy efficiency for industrial facilities. With a team of 40 employees in a hybrid environment, Director of People Operations Laura MacLachlan needed a way to break down barriers, build community, and reinforce their four core values: Quality, Customer First, Teamwork, and Curiosity.
They chose HeyTaco—and tied recognition directly to their values.
How they use it:
- Every taco is tagged with a core value
- 25 tacos = $25 gift card reward
- Creative program: 100+ trees planted through One Tree Planted donations
"Values are often just words on a wall, but with HeyTaco, we're living them every day."
The program won over initial skeptics through organic adoption. Cross-functional connections strengthened, departmental silos broke down, and remote employees felt more connected.
"Getting a taco always feels good. Who doesn't like to be appreciated?"
HeyTaco transformed their values from abstract ideals into daily behaviors—reinforced every time someone gives recognition.
Why Traditional Burnout Fixes Don't Work
Most burnout interventions treat symptoms, not causes.
Time Off Isn't Enough
PTO helps people recover, but they return to the same environment. Nothing changes if appreciation doesn't.
Workload Isn't Everything
People can handle hard work when they feel appreciated. It's unrecognized hard work that burns people out.
How Recognition Helps Prevent Burnout
Recognition builds resilience. When people feel seen and valued, they're better equipped to handle stress.
Makes Effort Visible
The invisible work that often leads to burnout finally gets noticed and acknowledged.
Builds Emotional Resilience
Feeling appreciated creates a buffer against stress. People can handle more when valued.
Strengthens Support Networks
Recognition builds connections. People don't burn out alone when they feel supported.
Restores Sense of Purpose
When work is acknowledged, it feels meaningful. Purpose is a powerful antidote to burnout.
What Teams See When Burnout Risk Drops
-
More Sustainable Energy
People pace themselves better when they're not running on empty. The team feels steadier.
-
Less Cynicism
When appreciation is present, negativity fades. People give initiatives a fair chance.
-
Better Retention
Burned out people leave. Appreciated people stay. Recognition directly impacts turnover.
-
Healthier Team Dynamics
People support each other more when recognition is part of the culture. Isolation decreases.
Why Teams Use HeyTaco to Combat Burnout
Because it works without adding process or overhead.
⚡
Low Effort, High Impact
Recognition takes seconds. It doesn't add to anyone's plate—it lightens the load.
📅
Daily Prevention
Burnout builds over time. Daily recognition prevents the appreciation gap from growing.
🤝
Peer-to-Peer Support
Teammates notice things managers miss. Peer recognition catches effort before it goes unseen.
📊
Early Warning Signs
Analytics show engagement trends. Declining recognition can signal burnout risk before it's too late.
4.8 on G2 • Trusted by 3k+ teams worldwide
Build a Team That Thrives, Not Just Survives
Try HeyTaco free for 30 days. No credit card required.
Start for free Get a demoFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about employee burnout, prevention, and recognition.
What causes employee burnout?
Burnout stems from chronic workplace stress—overwork, lack of control, and feeling unappreciated. When effort goes unnoticed repeatedly, people lose motivation and eventually burn out.
How does recognition help prevent burnout?
Recognition addresses a key driver of burnout: feeling unseen and unappreciated. When people's efforts are acknowledged regularly, they feel their work matters—which builds resilience against burnout.
Can recognition alone fix burnout?
Recognition helps but isn't a complete solution. Burnout also requires addressing workload, autonomy, and work-life balance. Recognition tackles the appreciation gap, which is one significant piece of the puzzle.
What are early signs of burnout on a team?
Watch for increasing cynicism, declining participation, emotional exhaustion, and people withdrawing from collaboration. If recognition is rare in your team, burnout risk is likely higher.
How quickly can recognition impact burnout?
People often feel the effects of appreciation immediately—a single recognition moment can shift someone's day. Sustained burnout prevention takes weeks as appreciation becomes habitual, but the mood lift starts right away.
Why do wellness programs fail to prevent burnout?
Wellness apps and meditation programs treat symptoms, not causes. They ask employees to manage stress better rather than fixing what creates stress. Recognition addresses the root issue: feeling unseen and undervalued.
How does peer recognition help more than manager recognition?
Managers can't see everything. Peers notice the daily effort, the small helps, the invisible work. Peer recognition catches contributions that would otherwise go unacknowledged—exactly the kind that leads to burnout when ignored.
Can you measure burnout risk with recognition data?
Yes. Declining recognition activity often signals disengagement and burnout risk. Teams or individuals who stop giving and receiving appreciation may be withdrawing—an early warning sign that intervention is needed.