Stalled Careers, Strained Minds: Investigating Burnout and Career Orientation in Plateaued Employees

This study examines the impact of career plateau on employee performance, focusing on the mediating role of burnout and the moderating role of career orientation, and drawing on conservation of resources theory. Data were collected through a three-wave time-lagged survey design from 325 full-time employees in India’s service industry, including banking, information technology, healthcare, hospitality and call centres. A purposive sampling method was used to collect data. Career plateau and burnout were measured at Time 1, career orientation at Time 2 and employee performance at Time 3, four weeks apart, to reduce common method bias and to order the variables temporally. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling. Results indicate that career plateau is negatively associated with employee performance, with burnout mediating this relationship. Career orientation moderates the link between career plateau and burnout, such that employees with stronger career orientation experience lower burnout amid stagnation. Organisations should implement career development and burnout-prevention initiatives to sustain performance during career stagnation. This study integrates psychological strain and personal career resources into the career plateau–performance framework, enriching the career development literature.