Why is burnout considered a syndrome that needs a solution? We work in a mentally exhausting and demanding field, why can't we normalize the idea of taking a break? Is the status quo really to work for several uninterrupted decades and then retire?
If a company has a burnt-out high performer they want to keep, then offer them a sabbatical. Let them take the time they need to relieve their stress. If they still don't want to come back, well that's life.
I say this as someone who put in their notice on this past Monday because of burn out. After nearly fifteen years working in this industry, I'm tired. I'm going to take time off and rest up, maybe work on my own projects. I feel no shame in this.
It's fairly common to deploy a proxy contract, which allows for a sort of updating. Basically you deploy a new contract and have the proxy point to that new contract instead of the old one. There are definitely some limitations and it's not fully standardized yet. There's a tentative standard here https://github.com/ethereum/EIPs/issues/1538 and OpenZeppelin also has their own implementation.
Although neither of these things will actually help if your contract gets exploited before you can push a fix.
If a company has a burnt-out high performer they want to keep, then offer them a sabbatical. Let them take the time they need to relieve their stress. If they still don't want to come back, well that's life.
I say this as someone who put in their notice on this past Monday because of burn out. After nearly fifteen years working in this industry, I'm tired. I'm going to take time off and rest up, maybe work on my own projects. I feel no shame in this.