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034 | Burnout and the Psychological Contract Between You and Your Employer

In this episode of Emotional Organization, Dr. Denaige McDonnell explores burnout through the lens of the psychological contract—the invisible but powerful set of expectations between workers and their organizations.

Burnout is not just exhaustion or stress. It’s what happens when the unspoken agreements that underpin motivation, purpose, and trust are broken. And in 2025, nearly half of Canadian workers say they’re experiencing it.

This episode pulls together academic theory, government data, and real-world stories to explore how the quiet breach of the psychological contract leads to emotional fatigue, disconnection, and workplace withdrawal. And more importantly, it outlines how we can repair it—systemically, not just individually.

In This Episode, We Cover:

  • What the psychological contract is—and why it matters more than ever

  • Why burnout is not a failure of the worker, but a failure of the system

  • The top burnout triggers from Robert Half’s 2025 workforce data

  • How different roles (leaders, solopreneurs, frontline workers) experience burnout uniquely

  • Why wellness programs and EAPs are not enough

  • How to apply a risk management lens to burnout: eliminate, reduce, redesign, protect

References + Research:

  •   Edú-Valsania S, Laguía A, Moriano JA. Burnout: A Review of Theory and Measurement. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Feb 4;19(3):1780. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19031780. PMID: 35162802; PMCID: PMC8834764.

  • Robert Half Canada Burnout Survey (2025): https://press.roberthalf.ca/2025-03-25-Nearly-half-of-Canadian-workers-feel-burned-out,-and-more-than-3-in-10-say-burnout-is-rising

  • Government of Canada Guidelines on Mental Health in the Workplace: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/health-safety/mental-health.html

  • Hansen, Samantha & Rousseau, Denise & Tomprou, Maria. (2015). Psychological Contract Theory. 10.1002/9781118785317.weom110075. 

Resources Mentioned:

  • National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (CSA Z1003)

  • Guarding Minds @ Work Toolkit

  • Risk Management Hierarchy of Controls

  • Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)—and their limits

Listen If You:

  • Are feeling burned out, checked out, or underappreciated

  • Lead people or systems and want to create healthier conditions

  • Own your own business and wonder why you're so drained

  • Want to stop managing symptoms and start addressing the source

Take Action:
Share this episode with a colleague, leader, or friend who’s been carrying more than they should. Let’s name the breach—and rebuild the contract.