101+ Employee Stress And Burnout Statistics UK

Report Highlights:

79% of British adults get stressed every month.
90% of young adults in the UK experience monthly stress.
50% of UK workers are on the brink of burnout.
Over 13.7 million workdays are lost annually in the UK due to stress, anxiety, and depression.
Stress, burnout, and mental health issues cost the UK economy a whopping £28bn each year.

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Stress And Burnout Statistics

In the UK, 79% of adults experience stress at least once every month.
For those aged 18-24 in Britain, 90% report monthly stress.
20% of people living in the UK are stressed on more days than they are relaxed each month.
An 18-24-year-old in the UK typically faces stress for about 9.82 days each month.
56% of the working population believe that a moderate level of stress boosts their performance.
Close to burnout are 46% of professionals in the UK.
Half of the UK employees working remotely feel they might experience burnout.
Of those who work in physical office spaces, 41% believe they’re on the brink of burnout.
When it comes to online searches about burnout, Cambridge leads the way in the UK.
In 2023, 42% of individuals say they feel more drained than at any previous time.
In the last year, 60% of professionals took advantage of their full holiday allowance.
There was a 48% rise in burnout reports among the British workforce over the last year.
The primary trigger for burnout? 78% cite their workload.
Each year, 13.7 million working days go unused in Britain due to ailments like stress, anxiety, and depression related to work.
Stress seems to most prominently affect those between the ages of 18 and 34.
Among all UK cities, 70% of London’s residents are the most prone to stress.
For 39% of UK adults, their profession is the most significant stress inducer.
A quarter of the UK’s working community has taken a stress-induced leave at some point.

Amount of People out of Work

The number of people not working in the UK due to illness has reached a record high. (438,000 more people were not looking for work in the first 3 months this year)
In total, 2.5 million people are currently not working due to health problems.
Rise in illness-related unemployment can be attributed to an increase in mental health issues, particularly in young people.
Four in five workers say workplace burnout has affected their health and wellbeing.
Almost half of employees frequently feel overwhelmed due to increasing inflationary pressures.
Gen Z employees experience burnout at the highest rate.
Nearly 50% of 18-24 year olds entering the workforce experience higher stress levels compared to older colleagues.
Low employee engagement may contribute to stress in young workers, as they often struggle to connect with coworkers, managers, or employers.
61% of young people working from home go for hours without talking to anyone, negatively impacting their mental health.
54% of Gen Z workers feel lonely and isolated at home, compared to 38% of older colleagues.
Financial pressures continue to cause stress for employees, leading to “quiet quitting” or disengagement from their job.
24% of UK employees admit to no longer going above and beyond at work.
Quiet quitting affects organizational culture and can lead to increased operational costs and decreased productivity.
Disengaged employees cost their company the equivalent of 18% of their annual salary.
A minority of employees rate the physical (32%), mental (39%), and financial (28%) wellbeing support from their employers as good or excellent.
72% of UK staff believe their workplace wellbeing would improve if they were simply thanked for their hard work.
Transactional leadership, which rewards high-achievers with benefits and perks, can motivate employees and improve their wellbeing.
Employees need to feel recognized and valued in the workplace for their financial and career wellbeing.

Burnout and Work-Related Stress Cost and Percentages

Work-induced stress, burnout, and mental challenges drain £28bn from the UK’s economy annually.
Annually, 23.3 million working days are missed in the UK due to issues like stress, burnout, and deteriorating mental health.
One in five UK adults experience emotional turmoil.
Over a quarter of UK adults lack a sense of positive mental well-being.
Nearly half of the individuals in the UK face the possibility of burnout.
Year on year, there’s a positive shift in the UK’s overall mental well-being.
Over half of the UK workforce believes their employer offers commendable support for mental health.
Employees with adequate support tend to be twice as content and 3.5 times more likely to thrive.
Monetary worries lead to a £6.2bn loss for UK enterprises due to sick days and reduced efficiency.
Almost 30% of individuals find it challenging to balance professional and personal lives, impacting their mental state.
While managers tend to experience higher stress levels, they also exhibit more confidence and ease.
Female workers in the UK exhibit lesser mental well-being compared to their male counterparts.
Close to half of the individuals between 18-24 years grapple with a mental health issue, while only 22% of those above 55 do.
While the negative perception surrounding mental health issues is fading, there remains a substantial need for support.
More than half the populace acknowledges the reducing stigma linked to mental health challenges.

How Employers Can Help

85% of business owners document health-related absences among their workforce
63% assess how absenteeism affects their company’s operations
In the 2021/22 period, 17 million workdays were forfeited due to stress, depression, or anxiety linked to the workplace
Early identification and support for team members facing mental health challenges are crucial to avoid exacerbating the situation
Promoting regular time off and consistent breaks for workers can bolster their mental wellbeing and deter potential drops in performance
High absentee rates adversely influence both output and revenue
Evaluating the results and effectiveness of a mental health initiative is vital for gauging its influence on performance
A company culture that values mental health from the leadership down is indispensable
It’s essential for supervisors to prioritize staff welfare and to be adept at addressing mental health topics
97% of those aged 18 to 34 have felt the effects of burnout
One in four individuals between 18 to 34 finds it challenging to manage stress
It’s vital for companies to foster an atmosphere where discussing mental health is welcomed, without any repercussions.

Employee Burnout Statistics

Mental health has affected the career trajectories of 75% of employees.
Companies need to focus on employee well-being to mitigate burnout.
For 72% of full-time professionals, taking annual breaks is seen as a way to combat burnout.
In the last year, just 60% of employees utilized all their holiday benefits.
Nearly 18% of individuals under 25 didn’t take any holidays in the previous year.
Merely 34% of staff felt their companies actively encouraged them to use up all their vacation days.
Of the workforce, 13% couldn’t get a break due to intense work commitments, 9% experienced employer-driven pressure, and 8% faced financial constraints that prevented holidays.
Half the employees admit that remote work makes it more likely for them to overlook their annual leave.
47% of the workforce feels they can’t completely unplug from their job while on vacation.
21% think it’s essential to stay updated with work dynamics, while 20% are concerned about tasks they’d leave pending.
Knowing they are reachable by their office, 18% struggle to detach, and 16% face blurred boundaries between their personal and professional lives.
Employees should strategize to handle colleagues’ duties during their absence.
Appointing a reliable point of contact for emergencies can be helpful.
Employees must understand that prolonged exhaustion can have severe implications.
The topic of unlimited paid leaves has seen a 48% surge in staff discussions.
64% of the workforce feels more vacation days should be provided by companies.
55% think that limitless holiday time can have a beneficial effect on mental well-being.

Report Conclusion

The statistics presented highlight the widespread impact of stress and burnout in the UK.

With a significant percentage of adults experiencing stress on a monthly basis and a growing number of workers on the brink of burnout, it is clear that action needs to be taken to address this issue.

The economic costs, both in terms of lost workdays and financial expenditures, further emphasize the urgency of implementing effective strategies to support mental health and well-being in the workplace.

Through proactive measures and creating a supportive environment, employers can play a crucial role in alleviating stress and burnout among their employees, ultimately leading to improved productivity and overall well-being.

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