Lab Matters Summer 2025 | Page 6

CAREER PATHWAYS

By Kenlie Fite, DrPH, MPH, CPCLC, lead specialist, Leadership Programs and Kathleen Street, MS, PMP, CLF, manager, Leadership Programs

Burnout is not just a personal issue— it is a workforce sustainability concern. Public health laboratory professionals often face high workloads, tight deadlines and demanding responsibilities, which leads to burnout. From emergency response efforts to staffing shortages to the ever-growing demand for testing and reporting, laboratory professionals are under constant pressure to perform every task to a high degree of quality and accuracy.

While the COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted the vital role of laboratories, it also revealed the toll of chronic stress on individuals and systems alike. In the fast-paced, high-stakes world of public health laboratories, burnout can feel like an unavoidable side effect of the job. Creating a sustainable, supportive environment is essential to long-term workforce effectiveness.

Set Boundaries

One of the biggest contributors to burnout is the absence of clear, enforceable boundaries. Boundaries around time, energy and focus are necessities.

• Identify your most critical boundaries. What do you need to protect— focus time, family time or your energy at the end of the day?

• Take a clear position. Decide how you will respond when your boundary is challenged.

• Automate when possible. Use calendar blocks, email filters and status updates to protect your time.

• Be consistent. Repetition builds new norms.

“ Micro boundaries” can also be built into a workday, such as turning off notifications during certain hours or keeping work applications off personal devices.

Use Time Management Tools

Trying to do everything is not leadership. One effective method to prioritize what matters is the Eisenhower Matrix, which separates tasks into:

• Urgent & Important – Do it now.

• Important but Not Urgent – Schedule it.

• Urgent but Not Important – Delegate it.

• Neither – Delete it.

Redefine Success

Too often, laboratory professionals became accustomed to constant“ yes” responses, especially during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, which leads to juggling endless responsibilities. This mindset is unsustainable. Leadership means choosing strategically what to say“ yes” to— and what to decline.

One powerful mindset statement by Stephen Covey states,“ The key is not spending time but investing it.” This means:

• Let go of tasks that can and should be delegated.

• Value high-level thinking and team development over micromanagement.

• Say“ no” to things that don’ t align with your priorities or role.

Support Resilience in Yourself and Others

Burnout prevention is about building resilience. Leaders encourage a culture and organizational climate that:

• Normalizes taking time off and disconnecting

• Celebrates progress over perfection

• Promotes open conversations about workload and well-being

• Provides tools and frameworks for solving problems.

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Recognize That Empathy Has Limits

While empathy is important in leadership, constantly absorbing others’ stress without boundaries can wear leaders down. Leaders practice emotionally intelligent empathy when they:

• Set boundaries on how much emotional labor you absorb.

• Schedule buffer time between meetings to reset.

• Prioritize breaks— even short ones— and honor them.

• Protect off-hours as true recovery time, not a backup work zone.

Do Not Wait for a Breaking Point

Burnout rarely announces itself. It creeps in, masked as fatigue, disconnection or declining performance. The good news? It’ s preventable and can be mitigated. With clear boundaries, effective time management, and a shift in leadership habits, laboratorians can cultivate cultures that prioritize sustainability and human well-being alongside scientific excellence. g