Allergy Seasons Are Getting Worse
“This time of year, many employees feel off. They’re tired. Foggy. Low-energy. Is it second-quarter burnout—or just allergies?”
“Research shows pollen seasons now start approximately 20 days earlier and last 10 days longer compared to 30 years ago,” says John James, a medical spokesperson for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
Warmer temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events—such as floods and thunderstorms—are “dispersing pollen and mold spores more widely and intensely,” increasing concentrations, and spreading allergens more widely, he says.
A 2025 report from climate research group Climate Central confirms that allergy seasons are getting longer, with the freeze-free growing season extending in 87 percent of major U.S. cities since 1970.
“These changes aren’t just annoying—they’re disruptive,” James says. “Allergies can lead to sleep disruption, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, irritability, depression, and impairments in attention, learning, and memory.” These symptoms can reduce productivity and increase absenteeism.
Allergies and Work Performance
Allergic rhinitis—often referred to as hay fever—affects up to 60 million people annually in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It frequently overlaps with asthma, which can further impact energy levels and breathing, especially in jobs with airborne irritants.
“Occupational allergies, including occupational asthma and rhinitis, are prevalent,” James says. “These conditions can be caused by occupational agents like grain dust, cleaning chemicals, and other irritants common in industrial settings.”
In fast-paced workplaces, allergy symptoms—fatigue, brain fog, low mood—can easily be mistaken for burnout. But the causes and the consequences are distinct. Burnout builds over time from chronic job stress.
Allergies flare in response to environmental triggers. When they collide, the effects compound—and it’s harder for employees to recover.
Understanding Burnout
“The experience of burnout isn’t about individual symptoms,” says Acadia University’s Michael Leiter, co-author of The Burnout Challenge: Managing People’s Relationships with Their Jobs with UC Berkeley professor Christina Maslach. “It’s about a sustained mismatch between a person and their work environment.”
Burnout tends to involve three dimensions: “exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy, persisting over months, if not years,” says Leiter. It often affects entire teams in underresourced or chronically stressful roles. “Allergies are more time-bound.”
That’s why it’s important to distinguish between the two. A foggy, unproductive employee might be reacting to their environment, their job design, or both. The manager’s job is not to diagnose—but to respond with care and focus on improving the work environment.
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How Employers Can Respond
So what should employers do? First, pay attention to timing. If performance consistently dips in the spring, environmental factors might be involved. Experts recommend taking steps to improve air quality by installing air purifiers, maintaining HVAC systems, and using cleaning products certified under the EPA’s Safer Choice program, which identifies products made without hazardous chemicals.
In some cases, even minor adjustments to scheduling—like offering hybrid options during high-pollen weeks—can reduce symptoms and help your team stay focused.
Encourage employees to flag allergy-related issues without stigma. Depending on severity, accommodations might include personal protective equipment, access to medication, or allergen-free zones. “Flexible work arrangements may be necessary for employees with severe allergies,” James adds.
If the problem truly is burnout, you can help address it by examining workloads, clarifying roles, and improving communication.
The Bottom Line
Allergies and burnout demand different responses, but both signal that your environment needs attention. Whether seasonal or structural, their causes can be costly if misunderstood or ignored. The key is to recognize the difference—and to respond to each on its own terms.
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