My notes from The Accessibility to Burnout Pipeline talk by Shell Little (International Game Developers Association - Game Access Special Interest Group edition)
Gathered notes
It’s not the accessibility work itself, it’s the environment we do the work in. We have to move away from an individual frame to a systemic frame.
Systemic issues that lead to burnout:
- grind culture
- late stage capitalism
- lack of workers rights
Causes of burnout:
- value misalignment
- high workload
- reduced accomplishments
- lack of resources
Results of burnout:
- worse performance
- depleted energy
- low morale
Accessibility professionals at higher risk because the worst burnout factors are just part of the job.
- Lack of control (of schedule, assignments, workload)
- Sense of futility or hopelessness (effort disproportionate to the outcome)
- Unclear and changing job expectations (role scope, shifting priorities) (especially when a11y isn’t full time job)
- Unreasonable and increasing workload (what’s reasonable to be doing)
- Having to fight for a seat at the table (the role, and being there)
Raw notes
Intro
- Your job shouldn’t make you feel like shit. That shouldn’t be a radical thing to say.
- The work we do is too important to lose more people to burnout.
- We’re losing both our senior leadership and the generation that will fill those shoes.
Burnout
- Chronic stress like high workload, reduced accomplishments, value misalignment
- Autistic burnout can look a lot like work burnout
- BO: Results in worse performance, depleted energy, low morale, languishing
- Systemic issues that lead to burnout: grind culture, late stage capitalism, lack of workers rights, white supremacy, patriarchy. Made to exploit our labour.
Burnout pipeline
- Why are a11y professionals at higher risk? The worst burnout factors are just part of the job.
- Lack of control (of schedule, assignments, workload)
- Sense of futility or hopelessness (effort disproportionate to the outcome)
- Unclear and changing job expectations (role scope, shifting priorities) (especially when a11y isn’t full time job)
- Unreasonable and increasing workload (what’s reasonable to be doing)
- Having to fight for a seat at the table (the role, and being there)
- Company Wellness programmes. Overlooks root issues (systemic causes), aren’t widely used, aren’t effective (some studies show)
- When we boil it down
- Increased job demands
- Lack of resources
- Misalignment of values
- We have to move away from an individual frame to a systemic frame
Prevention
- It’s not the accessibility work itself, it’s the environment we have to do the work in
- Boundary setting. Revaluate your relationship with work. Disengage and detach. Your job is to find not fix.
- Workplace well-being. Check these components: Protection from Harm; Connection & Community; Work-Life Harmony; Mattering at Work; Opportunity for Growth.
- Value Alignment. The majority of burnout is caused by a misalignment of your values and your role and work environment. Dig into the why.
- Job Crafting. Do an overview of your job. What parts energise you, what parts stress you out? Ask for accommodations.
Conclusion
- If you’re feeling burnt out, you’re not alone
- You’re not at fault, the system is working as designed
- Don’t lose sight of the why and the who
- The work we do is important, but so is your own well-being
- There are resources available, take advantage of them