Burnout Traffic Light Survey Tool

The Burnout Traffic Light survey tool is designed to assess the risk of job burnout within teams and organisations. Part of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health’s Mental Health Toolkit, the tool helps leadership detect the prevalence and level of burnout risk and offers development suggestions based on the results.

Job burnout is caused by prolonged work-related stress and leads to depleted personal resources. It has negative effects on employee well-being, occupational safety, and health. Maintaining work ability and preventing burnout is most effective when employees and employers work closely together. 

The tool helps to identify burnout symptoms, such as chronic fatigue, mental distancing, and challenges in cognitive functioning and emotional regulation, at the community level. The tool aggregates anonymous responses into a group-level report, while each respondent also receives personal feedback. The tool is free to use and suitable for work communities with at least 10 members. 

How to Use the Tool

1. Appoint a contact person within your organisation to create the survey link.
2. Send the survey invitation to your staff. It takes about 5 minutes to complete the survey.
3. Each participant receives personalised feedback and guidance on what to do if they recognise symptoms of burnout.
4. Once 10 or more people have responded, the designated contact person will receive a summary report with recommendations for reducing and preventing burnout.

Ideas for Using the Tool in the Film and TV Industry

• The survey is quick to complete, making it easy to include in a kickoff meeting.
• Use the survey at the beginning, during, and end of a project to monitor changes in team well-being over time.
• You can create different respondent groups to gather insights from various parts of a larger team (minimum 10 people per group). This allows comparison between, for example, permanent staff and freelance crew, or salaried and invoicing professionals.

You’ve Completed the Survey – What’s Next?

Ideas for actions management can take following the assessment

• Share the results with staff and invite them to take part in solution-focused discussions. 
• Contact your occupational health service provider to discuss the situation and explore ways they can support your team. 
• Review your organisation’s legally required documents and ensure they are up to date and accessible. See Checklist for Employers (in Finnish).
• Explore the Mental Health Toolkit to discover which tools and materials best support your organisation. The toolkit includes resources for managing work ability, recovery, job crafting, identifying stress and resource factors, and strengthening resilience. 
• Consider applying for the Hyvän mielen työpaikka® sertificate to demonstrate your organisation’s commitment to mental well-being at work.

Sources

Mieli ry. (Accessed 21.1.2025). Hyvän mielen työpaikka -merkki.

Kustannus Oy Duodecim. (Accessed 27.1.2025). Terveyskirjasto: Työuupumus.

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. (Accessed 21.1.2025) Hyvän mielen työpaikka.

The Centre for Occupational Safety. (Accessed 21.1.2025) Hyviä käytäntöjä psykososiaalisesti kuormittavien tilanteiden käsittelyyyn – Työuupumus.