Programmed For Despair? The Dynamics of Low Morale/High Burnout Welfare Organisations.

Abstract

A class of welfare organisations is identified as characterised by low staff morale and a high burnout rate among workers. On the basis of personal observations and clinical data, the author analyses the dynamics of ‘low morale/high burnout’ institutions in terms of three interlocking factors: the proportion of staff whose career choice was motivated unconsciously by ‘family despair’; the way that personal staff issues interact dysfunctionally with the behaviour of clients and administrators; the existence of ‘societal despair’ – the belief that unjust and oppressive social conditions will never improve. A series of parallel processes at the levels of clients, staff and administration is identified, and the failure of training to address these processes is explained. Finally, the author proposes a single intervention at the organisational level, which has potential for reversing the ‘cycles of despair’ previously identified.