What is burnout? And why is it so prevalent in HR?

Join host Stacey Nordwall and special guests Julie Turney and Stephanie Lemek for a deep dive into HR burnout - an issue that has become critical for the field.Drawing insights from Emily and Amelia Nagoski's book "Burnout," the conversation goes beyond the oversimplified notion that burnout is just feeling tired or can be fixed with a long weekend. Instead, they explore how burnout represents a biological stress cycle that needs proper completion, discussing concepts like "Human Giver Syndrome" and the unique challenges faced by HR professionals who are often expected to maintain endless empathy while managing their own stress.The episode critically examines why HR practitioners are particularly vulnerable to burnout, exploring factors like the isolation of the role, the expectation of constant emotional labor, and the tension between doing what's right and what's organizationally possible. They also challenge conventional burnout prevention advice, critiquing surface-level solutions like "take advantage of company benefits" or "have meeting blackout days" in favor of more systemic approaches.Whether you're an HR professional feeling overwhelmed by increasing demands and limited resources, or a leader looking to better support your HR team, this episode offers both validation and practical strategies for addressing burnout in the human resources field. The discussion particularly resonates in a post-pandemic context, where HR roles have faced greater demands while often being first in line for resource cuts. Connect with Stephanie: On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanielemek/ At her website: https://www.thewoundedworkforce.com/ Connect with Julie: On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamjulieturney/ At her website: https://www.hratheart.com/ Connect with Stacey: On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceynordwall/ Articles and book: Beyond burnout: Why changing how we talk about employee well-being could help solve itHalf of HR report burnout, wanting renewed job focusWhy HR leaders are struggling to retain their own team members.8 Surprising HR Burnout Statistics in 2025.Burnout