Background
Jenny, a 38-year-old Production Manager at a large manufacturing company, leads a team of 50 employees across multiple shifts. Over the past several months, increasing production demands, staffing shortages, extended operating hours, and pressures from senior leadership have intensified her workload.
Jenny now routinely works late, skips breaks, and finds herself dealing with staff issues outside working hours. She feels responsible for keeping production targets on track, often absorbing additional responsibilities herself rather than delegating to her supervisors.
As a result, she has become mentally and physically exhausted. Her sleep is disrupted, her motivation has dropped, and she feels emotionally depleted. Concerned that her burnout is affecting both her wellbeing and her performance, Jenny contacts the Life & Progress Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for advice.
The Call
EAP Counsellor (Lucy)
Lucy is a trained counsellor with expertise in workplace fatigue, burnout, and leadership wellbeing.
Lucy:
“Hello, Jenny. Thank you for calling the EAP today. My name is Lucy, and I’m here to support you. What’s been happening for you recently?”
Jenny:
“Hi, Lucy. I’m completely burned out. I’m managing a team of 50 people and everything feels relentless. I’m constantly dealing with issues — sickness, absences, staff queries, production pressures — and I’m exhausted. I can’t switch off anymore.”
Lucy:
“That sounds incredibly tough, Jenny. The amount of responsibility you’re carrying would be overwhelming for anyone. Can you tell me a bit more about how this has been affecting you?”
Jenny:
“I’m not sleeping well, I’m constantly tired at work, and I feel like I’m failing my team because I can’t keep up. I take work home, check emails at night, and I’m stressed all the time. I’ve just had enough, but I don’t know how to slow down.”
Key Themes Identified
- Severe Burnout: Emotional exhaustion, physical fatigue, and declining motivation.
- Responsibility Overload: Managing a large team (50 staff) with high expectations and constant operational pressure.
- Boundary Erosion: Work regularly spilling into evenings and weekends, preventing proper recovery.
- Leadership Strain: Difficulty delegating, feeling solely responsible for team performance.
- Sleep & Mood Disruption: Lack of rest fueling stress, irritability, and reduced resilience.
Lucy’s Response
Lucy validates Jenny’s experience and helps her explore manageable steps to reduce burnout and regain a sense of control.
Lucy:
“Jenny, everything you’ve described are classic symptoms of burnout, and it’s important to recognise that this is a response to prolonged pressure — not a reflection of your ability as a manager. You’ve clearly been giving everything you can. If you’re open to it, we can look at some steps to help you take back some balance and relief.”
Jenny:
“Yes, I really need that. I can’t keep going like this.”
Lucy:
“Let’s start with a few immediate strategies to ease the pressure. One approach is creating small, non-negotiable boundaries — such as stopping emails after a certain time, taking a proper lunch break, or blocking protected time for uninterrupted work each day. Even small changes can make a big difference.”
Jenny:
“I’ve not taken a proper break in months. Even the idea sounds strange now.”
Lucy:
“That tells me just how stretched you’ve been. Another thing we can look at is how you can safely delegate more. As a Production Manager responsible for 50 staff, sharing tasks with your team leaders or supervisors is vital. Counselling can support you with confidence, communication, and boundary-setting around delegation.”
Jenny:
“I think I need help with that. I always end up taking everything on myself.”
Lucy:
“You don’t need to manage this alone, Jenny. As part of your Life & Progress EAP, you can access short-term counselling, which can give you regular space to process everything and rebuild your resilience. Would you like me to arrange that for you?”
Jenny:
“Yes, I definitely would. I need to get back to feeling like myself again.”
Practical Support Offered
- Short-Term Counselling (via the EAP)
Tailored sessions focused on burnout recovery, boundary-setting, delegation confidence, and emotional resilience. - Immediate Stress Reduction Tools
Techniques such as grounding exercises, breathing routines, and structured breaks. - Work-Life Boundary Planning
Guidance on limiting after-hours email, setting end-of-day routines, and creating space for recovery. - Leadership Support Strategies
Practical advice on effective delegation, team support structures, and balancing managerial pressure. - Sleep and Overthinking Support
Techniques for switching off, reducing rumination, and improving sleep quality. - Follow-Up Support
A planned check-in provides continuity and ongoing reassurance.
Outcome
By the end of the call, Jenny feels relieved, understood, and less overwhelmed. She commits to:
- Starting short-term EAP counselling
- Setting clearer boundaries around out-of-hours work
- Taking daily breaks
- Exploring delegation strategies with her team supervisors
Jenny finishes the call feeling supported and more confident that burnout is something she can begin to recover from with the right tools and guidance.
Key Takeaways
- Burnout Recognised Early
The EAP helps Jenny see that her symptoms reflect burnout, not inadequacy. - Safe, Supportive Space
Lucy offers reassurance, helping Jenny open up about the emotional toll of leadership. - Targeted Practical Advice
Small but powerful boundary-setting and stress techniques help Jenny regain control. - Leadership-Focused Support
Counselling provides a structured way to address the unique pressures of managing 50 staff. - Clear Recovery Pathway
A follow-up plan and counselling sessions give Jenny a roadmap to rebuild wellbeing and resilience.
L&P Copyright. E&OE, Feb26
