1National School of Art and Design, Casablanca, Morocco
2National School of Business and Management, Tangier, Morocco
Volume 2025 (12),
Article ID 4530825,
HR, Employee Development and Retention: 45HR 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5171/2025.4530825
Abstract
This study builds upon a doctoral research project focused on occupational burnout within private-sector companies in Morocco. It seeks to identify the organizational and psychosocial demands that contribute to the distress experienced by middle managers. A significant gap remains in the academic literature regarding the psychological profiles of managers experiencing burnout in the Moroccan context, highlighting the relevance of this research. The methodology employed follows a qualitative and exploratory approach, combining life-narrative interviews with psychometric questionnaires. These tools were utilized to gain deeper insight into the underlying causes of professional burnout and how it manifests among the participating managers. The analysis of the data collected led to the identification of four distinct psychological profiles among exhausted managers : the “Autopilot,” who continues functioning mechanically despite exhaustion ; the “ Excessively Devoted,” whose unlimited commitment leads to burnout ; the “Work-Suffocated,” overwhelmed by excessive workload and lack of recognition ; and the “Wasted Talent,” who suffers from a misalignment between their competencies and assigned responsibilities.