Work burnout test

What this burnout test measures

The seven questions above are the work-related scale of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). Tage Kristensen, Marianne Borritz, Ebbe Villadsen and Karl Christensen at Denmark's National Institute of Occupational Health developed it for PUMA, a Danish study of burnout in human service jobs, and published it in 2005 (Work & Stress, volume 19, pages 192 to 207).

The full CBI has three parts: personal, work-related and client-related burnout. This page uses only the work-related part. It asks about the job itself, so it fits any occupation, from nursing and teaching to software, retail or a warehouse floor.

The authors built something new for two reasons. The dominant instrument at the time, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, was a commercial product that users had to pay for. They also disagreed with its model. In the CBI, the heart of burnout is prolonged physical and psychological exhaustion, and each scale asks whether a person connects that exhaustion to a particular part of life. They made the questionnaire free to use, and it has since been translated and used in studies around the world.

How the scoring works

Every answer is worth 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100 points. Questions 1 to 3 use a "degree" scale and questions 4 to 7 a "frequency" scale, but the points line up the same way. Question 7 ("Do you have enough energy for family and friends during leisure time?") points the other way, so it is reversed: "Always" scores 0 and "Never or almost never" scores 100.

Answer, questions 1 to 3	Answer, questions 4 to 7	Points, questions 1 to 6	Points, question 7
To a very high degree	Always	100	0
To a high degree	Often	75	25
Somewhat	Sometimes	50	50
To a low degree	Seldom	25	75
To a very low degree	Never or almost never	0	100

Your score is the average of the seven numbers, rounded to one decimal place, so it always lands between 0 and 100. Say someone answers Somewhat, To a high degree and Somewhat to the first three questions, then Often, Sometimes and Seldom to questions 4 to 6, and Sometimes to question 7. That gives 50, 75, 50, 75, 50, 25 and 50: a total of 375, divided by 7, is 53.6, in the Moderate band.

How to read your result

Average score	Band
under 50	Low
50-74.9	Moderate
75-99.9	High
100	Severe

Cut-offs vary between studies. Some research draws a single line at 50 between low and high burnout; many studies use the four levels above, and this tool follows those commonly used bands.

A Low score sits in the range researchers usually treat as low work-related burnout. It does not mean the job is easy, and a hard quarter can move it quickly. Moderate is the early-warning zone, where acting is easier because the changes needed are still small. High is a strong signal that work is draining more than you are recovering. Severe is only possible when every answer sits at the far end, including having no energy left for family and friends, and it calls for a conversation with a doctor soon.

Burnout is an occupational phenomenon, not a diagnosis

The World Health Organization includes burn-out in ICD-11 as an occupational phenomenon, not a medical condition. Its definition describes a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed, with three dimensions: exhaustion, mental distance or cynicism about the job, and reduced professional efficacy. WHO also says the term applies only to work.

The CBI work scale mainly measures the first of those, exhaustion, and whether you tie it to work. A high score says a lot about energy and strain and less about cynicism or confidence. Like every check on this site, it is a screening and reflection tool, not a diagnosis.

Burnout or depression?

The two overlap. Exhaustion, poor sleep, trouble concentrating and irritability show up in both, and they can occur together. The main difference is reach. Burnout is about work. Depression tends to spread across life: low mood, losing interest in things you used to enjoy, changes in sleep or appetite, and feelings of worthlessness that do not lift on weekends or vacation. Depression is a medical condition that a doctor can diagnose and help you manage.

If what you feel follows you out of the workplace, take the PHQ-8 mood check too and bring both results to your doctor.

What to do with a high score at work

Start by naming what is driving it. Burnout researchers often group the causes into six areas: workload, control, reward, community, fairness and values. Note which apply, with an example or two from the last month.

Then turn that into specific requests for your manager. "Which of these three projects can wait until March?" is easier to act on than a general report of feeling burnt out. Ask about priorities, deadlines and after-hours coverage.

Use your employee assistance program (EAP) if you have one. Most offer a few free, confidential counseling sessions, and the counselor can help you plan that conversation.

See a doctor, too. Exhaustion has physical causes, such as thyroid problems, anemia and sleep disorders, and a doctor can check for depression or anxiety. If a health condition is found, you may be able to ask for accommodations under the ADA or take protected leave under the FMLA, depending on your employer and eligibility. HR can explain what applies.

Meanwhile, protect recovery: real breaks, time off that is actually off, fewer messages after hours. Retake the test in four to six weeks to see whether the changes are working. If you are weighing a bigger change, rebuilding a career after burnout walks through it in stages.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the Maslach Burnout Inventory?

No. The Maslach Burnout Inventory, developed by Christina Maslach and Susan Jackson, is a copyrighted instrument licensed through its publisher. It measures emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment. This page uses the free work-related scale of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. The questions and scoring differ, so the two scores cannot be compared directly.

How often should I retake it?

The questions ask about your work at the moment, so once a month is a sensible rhythm, or after a change such as a new role, a reorganization or a return from leave. Daily retakes mostly pick up ordinary ups and downs. Note the date and score each time; the trend says more than any single number.

Can my employer see my answers?

No. Scoring happens in your browser, and nothing is sent or stored. If your employer runs its own burnout survey, ask who sees individual responses and whether results are reported only for groups. The rules are covered in what employers can and can't do with mental health screening.