PETALING JAYA: Employers and human resource experts are urging structural reforms, from fairer workloads to flexible work, as fatigue deepens among young professionals across industries.
Experts say the surge in burnout is no longer about weak coping skills, but workplaces that are structurally designed to exhaust employees.
Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said burnout is most common among employees early in their careers.
"They face prolonged stress and fatigue due to constant connectivity through digital platforms and unrealistic career pressures.
"The transition to hybrid and remote work has reduced social support, leaving many feeling isolated and mentally strained," he said, adding that burnout often leads to emotional exhaustion, declining motivation, absenteeism and lower creativity.
He said job insecurity, financial pressures and the constant need to "prove oneself" are key stressors for young professionals.
"Many feel compelled to overextend themselves, working longer hours or taking on extra tasks just to prove their value," he added.
Syed Hussain said the "always online" culture also makes it difficult for employees to disconnect after work hours, blurring personal boundaries and hindering mental recovery.
He agreed that employers must take a proactive role in managing their employees' well-being.
"Employers need to prioritise well-being the same way they prioritise performance," he said, adding that regular workload assessments, mentorship programmes and empathetic leadership are key to creating healthier workplaces.
He also urged reforms in education to prepare graduates for real-world challenges.
"Beyond technical skills, students need training in mental resilience, time management and emotional intelligence.
"MEF supports holistic reforms that develop not just skilled and innovative workers, but also resilient ones who are capable of thriving in demanding and evolving work environments," he said.
According to Malaysia HR Forum chief executive officer Arulkumar Singaraveloo, many companies fail to recognise that burnout stems from structural flaws within the workplace rather than individual weakness.
"Too often, companies treat burnout like a fever, addressing the symptoms with 'Panadol' solutions such as cosy rest corners, mental health days or mindfulness sessions while the real infection festers underneath," he said.
He said burnout is often linked to "unrealistic job design, poor hiring practices and inadequate management skills among supervisors".
"Many roles are structured with workloads that clearly exceed normal working hours.
"When a job itself is unsustainably designed, no amount of motivation or wellness programmes can compensate," he said.
He added that poor hiring decisions and untrained managers also worsen the problem.
"Burnout thrives in environments where managers lack empathy, coaching ability or the capacity to guide struggling team members," Arulkumar noted.
Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Nivas Ragavan said burnout has evolved from being "a personal struggle" into "a systemic workplace challenge that needs structural solutions".
"To effectively address burnout, employers must go beyond ad-hoc wellness initiatives and focus on workplace culture transformation.
"This includes relooking at workload expectations, offering flexibility, cultivating open communication and recognising employees' contributions," he said.
Nivas said leadership behaviour plays a crucial role.
"When leaders model empathy, transparency and respect for personal time, it normalises a healthier balance across the organisation," he said.
He added that efforts such as Employee Assistance Programmes, flexible work options and stress management workshops are encouraging, but must be consistent.
"These efforts must be sustained and embedded into organisational values, not treated as one-off campaigns," he said.
"At the end of the day, safeguarding mental health is not just an act of compassion, but good business.
"A workforce that feels supported and valued will always perform better, stay longer and drive greater innovation for the nation's economic growth," Nivas added.