Objective To understand how micropolitan public health workers (PHWs) experienced burnout antecedents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted in-depth guided discussions with 34 representatives from 16 micropolitan public health departments using semistructured, open-ended questions about departments' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. We coded discussion transcripts to develop themes according to the Six Areas of Worklife model. Results PHWs described antecedents of burnout that stemmed from organizational and external forces, most notably within the workload, control, reward, and values dimensions of the Six Areas of Worklife model, as well as instances of workplace violence. Conclusions Our findings support organization-level approaches to reducing and preventing burnout in the micropolitan public health workforce. We discuss addressing specific dimensions of the Six Areas of Worklife model when designing burnout solutions for this essential workforce.

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