The slave drivers !

Medical people will ring alarm bells at the news that in the first twelve months of government forty percent of Kevin Rudd's staff have quit - and Deputy Prime minister Julia Gillard has experienced an even greater attrition rate of fifty percent - with " overwork " claimed as the reason.

A new government fresh to office has a big task of setting it's agenda and the past twelve months have been unusual in that the world has experienced a financial meltdown, but that sort of resignation rate would get the full attention of union officials if it happened in private industry.

Workers advocate Bill Shorten comments " I don't think people have been worked too hard ", but that is hardly reassuring considering that he is referring to his boss and the deputy boss of his own political party. He is hardly likely to voice criticism in such circumstances.

Any good psychologist would see danger in this situation. Either these two political leaders are slave drivers who demand performance beyond human capacity from their subordinates - or they are themselves working at an unsustainable rate and expect their crew to work to a similar level.

In either case there is only one possible consequence - and that is " burnout " !

We are now seeing this " burnout " in the attrition rate. Jobs at this level pay very good salaries and have huge perks so employees do not relinquish them lightly.

The fact that so many throw in the towel and walk away has a lot to do with the medical consequences of impossible hours and mental strain. Such conditions are clear factors in alcohol abuse, marriage breakdowns and the deterioration of mental health that has so many unpleasant manifestations.

The big danger is to the continuing health of Rudd and Gillard - and their capacity to perform in the top jobs in this country.

So far they seem to have done a good job as our leaders and it would be catastrophic if their work load impaired their mental ability - causing them to make mistakes that this country could ill afford in the present economic circumstances.

The message is clear. They need to slow down - and evaluate what still needs to be done at a less frenetic pace.

If this impossible attrition of their staff continues Australia will have good reason to believe that the same fate will overtake the two people at the pinnacle of power !