The AI-burnout paradox: Using strategy and empathy to tackle it

AI is causing 22 per cent of burnout cases but is also helping 26 per cent of people alleviate their burnout, new research has found.

Recruitment firm Robert Half collected survey responses from 500 hiring managers in finance and accounting, IT and technology, and human resources from SMEs, large private, publicly listed, and public sector organisations across Australia in July 2025 to explore workplace trends.

Robert Half described workplace burnout as emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion from excessive demands at work, “which not only makes people less effective in their role but can cause serious health issues”.

Varying results

Last year, the firm found that 80 per cent of employees suffered from burnout.

For its latest research, the firm found that 22 per cent of business leaders reported that the adoption and exploration of AI contributed to burnout; interestingly, its findings also revealed that 26 per cent of these leaders believed that AI reduced their burnout.

In addition, it revealed that almost the same number of employers who reported rising burnout (41 per cent) reported a fall in burnout (42 per cent).

Compared to last year, the data showed that 45 per cent of leaders believed that their employees were suffering more from burnout this year, whereas 38 per cent of employers believed that staff burnout levels had declined in the past year.

Business cannot be ‘as usual’

“The companies that are seeing improvements in burnout levels are likely those that have genuinely embedded sustainable work practices,” Nicole Gorton (pictured), director at Robert Half, said.

“For those where burnout is intensifying, this data is a stark reminder that a ‘business as usual’ approach, or superficial interventions, simply won’t cut it.”

The findings revealed that heavy workloads were a key contributor to employees feeling burnout in both 2024 and 2025.

Despite sharing some of the stressors that their employees did, the top five contributors to burnout experienced by business leaders were heavy workloads (35 per cent), the adoption and exploration of AI (22 per cent), talent shortages (20 per cent), toxic organisational culture (20 per cent), and global economic and geopolitical volatility (20 per cent).

Harnessing adoption

Business leaders reported that the adoption and exploration of AI was most beneficial in easing their burnout levels, the research highlighted.

“While adoption can be taxing at first, leaders who harness it for efficiency are finding it helps reduce their own workload and stress,” Gorton said.

According to the report, 40 per cent of employers provided greater flexibility for their workers around their schedules and workplace arrangements.

Gorton said: “Burnout is no longer flying under the radar. Businesses are finally treating it as a leadership and operational priority, not just an HR concern.

“The path to reducing burnout lies in strategic talent management and empathetic leadership.

“Companies that prioritise adequate resourcing, flexibility, and clear direction will not only ease pressure but also get a more engaged workforce and gain a competitive edge in attracting and retaining talent.”