Background

Burnout first emerged as a subject of research in the United States over forty years ago, but the incidence of burnout worldwide has increased substantially over recent years.  Today, burnout is recognized globally as a major concern. Despite the recognition of burnout as a costly and complex challenge to workers’ health and productivity, there is little understanding of the burnout phenomenon by the public at large. Moreover, despite increasing globalization, there are few cross-cultural studies on burnout and positive psychology research on burnout to date has focused on individual, rather than organizational, solutions.

Aims 

The intent and aim is to begin filling this research gap by analyzing the different predictive factors and paradoxes of burnout from the cross-cultural perspective of France and the United States- two major world economies with distinctly different labor markets- to illustrate the complexity and misunderstandings surrounding burnout.

Method

Based on a literature review of research on the predictive factors of burnout, as applied to the American and French workplaces, a framework of suggested features is presented for creating sustainable and healthy workplaces by applying models and theories from the field of positive psychology.

Results

 A framework of suggested features is presented for creating sustainable and healthy workplaces by applying models and theories from the field of positive psychology.

Conclusion

The framework sheds new light and perspectives on prevention of workplace burnout.