In 2019, the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases officially recognized “burnout” as a serious health condition resulting from “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” Importantly, the reference guide noted that burnout “refers specifically to a phenomena in the occupational context” and it “should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life.”

However, the classification overlooks some significant aspects: researchers have documented that caretaking is a critical part of our invisible economy, contributing to burnout, and the invisible work in the workplace that isn’t “occupational” but often unrecognized emotional and domestic labor also leads to burnout. Healthcare professionals would be well advised to expand the understanding of burnout to extend beyond the workplace and include the effects of unpaid caretaking roles at home.

In fact, earlier this year, Kaiser Permanente, the healthcare network, published an article on its official website, recognizing a “heavy mental load,” or “mental labor,” as the “unpaid, almost invisible work involved in running a household and taking care of family members or loved ones.” It noted, “Over time, mental load can lead to extreme stress, strained relationships, and even chronic illness.”

Invisible work is everywhere and essential for our society to function. Our society has given little economic value to household management, “life admin,” or unpaid work on the job. Whether it is organizing the family schedule with everything from extracurricular activities to medical appointments and birthdays or mentoring new employees, people are often asked to do important tasks for which they are not recognized........

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