Based on insights from the podcast episode: Running on Empty – Why Fatigue Isn’t Just a Shift Worker Problem, on Under the Rug at Work with Nicole Turnbull and guest Tammy Howell, Founder of Core Health Consulting.
We often associate workplace fatigue with people doing night shifts, working in high-risk environments or doing physical labour. But fatigue isn’t just a shift worker health issue. It’s a much broader problem that quietly affects people across every profession, from miners to managers.
In a recent conversation on Under the Rug at Work, host Nicole Turnbull sat down with registered nurse and health educator Tammy Howell to unpack what employee burnout and chronic fatigue actually look like, and why we keep missing the signs.
Fatigue doesn’t arrive overnight
Tammy explains that fatigue builds gradually. It doesn’t knock you flat in one day. It chips away at you, physically and mentally, often without you realising it. And that’s part of the danger. “We take it for granted because we don’t know what good feels like anymore,” she says.
She knows the risks firsthand. During her time in ICU, Tammy regularly cared for patients who didn’t realise something was wrong until it became life-threatening. For some, persistent headaches were brushed off, until they turned out to be brain aneurysms. Others ignored chest pain, assuming it was just stress or tiredness, only to end up in cardiac care.
One of those cases was deeply personal. Tammy lost a close friend and colleague, Nick, to a brain aneurysm after months of persistent headaches. No one realised it was serious. “That was the moment I asked, what’s my purpose?” she recalls.
Fatigue hides behind other symptoms
One of the biggest challenges in managing fatigue at work is that it rarely shows up in obvious ways. Many people experience gut problems, poor sleep, low mood, irritability or complete lack of motivation, and put it down to being busy or just “a rough week”.
But Tammy warns these can all be signs of bigger health issues. Undiagnosed sleep apnoea, food intolerances, poor nutrient absorption or even early-stage diabetes can show up as fatigue. And because we live in a world that celebrates “pushing through”, we often don’t stop to investigate further.
In some cases, even GPs dismiss symptoms, especially when the patient is a known shift worker. “It’s not good enough,” Tammy says. “You can’t just say you’re tired because you work nights.”
She encourages people to advocate for themselves and ask for blood tests, sleep studies and food allergy screenings. “Diarrhoea every day is not normal. Neither is constant constipation or bloating after meals,” she says.
The same goes for mental health. If you’re constantly exhausted and flat, it might not just be fatigue — it could be a sign of depression or burnout.
Culture is a compounding factor
A key theme from the episode is the role of psychosocial hazards at work. A toxic workplace culture that encourages constant connectivity, overloads staff or punishes rest can make fatigue worse. It’s not just about how long you work. It’s about whether you’re allowed to switch off.
Tammy shared one story of a man expected to be on call 24/7 in his role. By the time she met him, his nervous system was shot. He was close to a breakdown and still, no systems were in place to support him. “The workplace didn’t consider the long-term cost,” she says. “But once he collapses, they’ll need two people to replace him.”
Another example came from a mining site where Tammy had been invited to deliver fatigue training. The irony? She was logged in at 6.30am and didn’t clock off until 11.30pm. “You’re bringing me in to teach fatigue, and this is the schedule?” she recalled. “It goes against everything I just said.”
In contrast, a healthy workplace culture gives people permission to rest. That includes flexible work options, genuine support for appointments and health checks, and leadership that sets realistic expectations. “It has to start from the top,” Tammy says. “You can’t tell people to look after themselves while you burn the candle at both ends.”
Food, movement and sleep: the fatigue trifecta
Tammy brings it back to fundamentals. Most people aren’t eating enough real food or drinking enough water. We live off processed meals, sugary snacks and caffeine, then wonder why we crash mid-afternoon.
She explains that skipping movement, even simple walking, worsens fatigue by increasing cortisol (the stress hormone) and reducing energy flow. It also disrupts sleep, which is where everything unravels. The impact of poor sleep isn’t just tiredness. It raises your risk of heart disease, mental health issues and chronic illness.
“When your adrenal glands burn out, your immune system crashes,” she says. “That’s when your body forces you to rest with illness.”
What you can do next
Tammy offers several simple ways individuals can reduce the risk of fatigue:
- Drink more water throughout the day
- Eat more vegetables and whole foods, aiming for 5 to 7 serves of veg and 2 pieces of fruit
- Move your body daily — even a 20-minute walk can boost energy
- Pay attention to how your body reacts to food, caffeine or alcohol
- Prioritise sleep hygiene — dim lights before bed, reduce screen time and aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep
- Don’t ignore recurring symptoms like gut discomfort, headaches or constant tiredness — see your GP and request testing
And for workplaces looking to support wellbeing:
- Encourage staff to take breaks and truly disconnect after hours
- Support flexibility and doctor’s appointments
- Model healthy behaviours from leadership down
- Create space for real wellbeing conversations, not just posters or token programs
- Appoint internal wellbeing champions to keep momentum going
- Replace tick-box training with practical, person-focused education
“Being proactive is far more affordable than being reactive,” Tammy says. “One sick day today can prevent six weeks off recovering from major illness.”
Fatigue is everyone’s issue — and everyone’s responsibility
This conversation makes it clear that fatigue and wellbeing are inseparable. You can’t treat exhaustion as “normal” just because someone works hard. And you can’t rely on policy alone to fix it.
Fatigue doesn’t care what your job title is. If you’re always pushing through without rest, eventually your body will force the issue. That’s why understanding the signs — and acting early — matters.
As Tammy puts it, “It’s your body. It’s your health. It’s your responsibility. But workplaces have a role to play in making that possible.”
All insights in this article were drawn from the Under the Rug at Work podcast with Nicole Turnbull and guest Tammy Howell, founder of Core Health Consulting.
Want to learn more about this topic?
You can listen to the full episode of Under the Rug at Work: Running on Empty – Why Fatigue Isn’t Just a Shift Worker Problem on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.