Animal care organizations are unique, yet stressful places to work. Most people who work at sanctuaries and shelters do so with a high level of resilience and engagement, at least at first.[1] Burnout and compassion fatigue, however, can take their toll, particularly in the non-profit sector where there are complex emotional issues, limited resources, and high ideals and expectations for animal care. This type of stress can negatively impact individual productivity, team performance, and mental and physical health.
Burnout stems from a “mismatch” with the organization in several areas of work life [3]. It can affect any level of the organization, from those who work directly with animals to those who manage and lead. For example, board members or directors may experience an overwhelming workload, animal pain and trauma, staff conflicts, and, in certain cases, grief surrounding euthanasia.
Unlike burnout, compassion fatigue is most often found in those who care for animals directly, particularly when trauma is involved. It may resemble burnout, particularly as it brings emotional exhaustion. Compassion fatigue is the "cost of caring", what traumatologists call secondary traumatic stress. [3] The symptoms are cognitive, emotional, and behavioral, and may show up as apathy, irritability, or even accident proneness.[3][4] Work performance may also suffer, resulting in poor communication, low quality of work, and conflict.
Sources
[1] Maslach, C., Schaufeli, W. B., & Leiter, M. P. (2001). Job burnout. In S. T. Fiske, D. L. Schacter, & C. Zahn-Waxler (Eds.), Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 397-422.
[2] Leiter, M. P., & Maslach, C. (2004). Areas of work life: A structured approach to organizational predictors of job burnout. In P. L. Perrewe & D. C. Ganster (Eds.), Research in occupational stress and well-being (Vol. 3, 91-134). Oxford: Elsevier.
[3] Figley, C. R. (Ed.) (1995). Compassion fatigue: Coping with secondary traumatic stress disorder in those who treat the traumatized. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
[4] Figley, C. R. (Ed.) (1997). Burnout in families: The systemic costs of caring. New York: CRC Press.
photo credits
"Dorian, Burned Out," courtesy Jeff Borchers
© 2012 Kerulos Center All rights reserved
"Science in service to animals"
