Burnout: Can rest become South Africa’s new status symbol?

Burnout has become an uncomfortable feature of working life in South Africa. 

For years, packed calendars and late-night emails have signalled ambition. Now, having enough energy left after work looks increasingly valuable. 

Rest may even be becoming the luxury that money cannot easily buy.

South Africans face a particularly tough mix of pressures. Rising living costs, job insecurity and demanding workplaces can make switching off feel irresponsible. 

Add long commutes and phones that keep work within arm’s reach, and the working day can stretch well beyond office hours.

WHY ARE SOUTH AFRICANS BURNING OUT?

The numbers paint a sobering picture. 

A South African Depression and Anxiety Group survey of 963 employees found that 52% had received a mental health diagnosis. The survey covered sectors including education, healthcare, finance, government, retail and media. 

Another report on the same survey found that 75% struggled to switch off because work communication continued after hours. Sixty-one per cent said they wished they could leave their jobs if they could afford to do so.

The pressure does not necessarily wait for middle age. Research on South African medical doctors aged 25 to 35 has documented significant burnout risks among younger professionals. 

WHAT IS KEEPING US BURNING OUT?

Technology has changed the boundary between earning a living and living. A 2025 South African review found that constant digital connectivity can increase stress, burnout and mental fatigue. It also identified expectations of constant availability as a growing workplace problem. 

Economic pressure makes the problem harder to escape. Profmed’s 2024 Stress Index surveyed 2 071 South African professionals. It identified money and workplace pressures among the leading sources of stress. 

This creates a strange modern bargain: Workers may fear exhaustion, yet also fear stepping away. When another salary depends on staying employed, rest can feel like a risk rather than a right.

CAN REST BECOME THE NEW STATUS SYMBOL?

Perhaps the real luxury is no longer another achievement; it is an evening without notifications, a weekend without catching up, or taking leave without checking email.

South African research involving 1 048 employees found five distinct wellbeing profiles. Eight per cent fell into a burned-out group, while another 28% showed moderate burnout and low engagement. Four per cent were highly engaged but also highly burned out. 

That last group matters: Being enthusiastic about work does not make a person immune to exhaustion.

South African employers also carry responsibilities here. The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires employers to provide working environments that are safe and without risks to employees’ health, as far as reasonably practicable. 

So perhaps rest deserves a new reputation. 

It is not laziness, lack of ambition or wasted time. In a culture that rewards constant output, stopping can become an act of self-preservation.

And perhaps the person who says, “I’m switching off now,” is not falling behind. They may simply have worked out what the rest of us are still learning.