Burnout is the index of the dislocation between what people are and what they have to do. It represents an erosion in values, dignity, spirit, and will. Conventional wisdom says that burnout is primarily a problem of individuals, but after extensive research, the authors explain how burnout is really a result of a dysfunctional social environment. Downsizing, job insecurity, more work for less pay -- these are the real causes. Currently, human values come in a distant second to economic ones in the workplace. Mismatches between the nature of the job and the nature of people (lack of control, insufficient reward, breakdown of community, and absence of fairness) have become the source of explosive situations and psychological angst in workplaces across the country.

After identifying the source of the problem, the authors offer specific prescriptive measures -- for assessment, goal-setting, crisis intervention, and prevention of future burnout.