In December 2023, a striking majority of IT professionals in Russia reported signs of burnout. A survey highlighted by the Vedomosti publication drew on findings from Habr Career in partnership with the HR platform Beehive, revealing that 96% of the sample showed burnout indicators. The study involved around two thousand IT workers, offering a lens into fatigue levels across the sector.
The results also showed that 44% of respondents were at the late and most dangerous stage of burnout at the time of the survey. Meanwhile, only 21% of those who experienced burnout reported a drop in work productivity, suggesting a complex picture where effort and strain persist even as output remains uneven.
Vedomosti characterized the situation with a concise phrase: they endure while they suffer. The commentary underscores how, as fatigue grows, clear signs of burnout become harder to miss for teams and managers alike.
HR professionals explain that fatigue tends to reveal itself through visible behavioral shifts. Anastasia Egorova, head of Get Progress studio, notes that an introverted worker might still joke and engage, whereas an extroverted colleague could retreat and concentrate intensely on tasks for long stretches. The contrast illustrates how burnout can manifest differently across personality types.
Yulia Tishchenko, a Beehive HR expert, adds that employees burn out much like a candle: they flare up initially, then gradually burn down. This metaphor captures the pattern of rising effort followed by diminishing energy and engagement over time.
Earlier developments in Russia included a project described as the AI equivalent of Tinder for scientists, signaling how digital tools have sought to match expertise with opportunity in niche fields. This background provides context for understanding how technology and talent management intersect in high-pressure IT environments.
Experts emphasize that burnout in the tech industry is not merely a personal issue but a systemic one. Workplace structures, project timelines, and performance pressures can amplify fatigue. In Canada and the United States, comparable trends have drawn attention to the need for sustainable work practices, mental health support, and clear pathways for recovery. The Russian experience cited here reflects a broader, global conversation about maintaining well-being while pursuing rapid innovation in technology and software development. Marked assessments from [Vedomosti], [Habr Career], and [Beehive] highlight the urgent call for actionable policies that protect professionals from chronic fatigue and its ripple effects on teams, products, and leadership decisions. ”