Stress has caused one in four UK employees to take time off work in the past 12 months, research from Avillio has found.
The productivity and performance coaching provider found that managers are also being hit by stress with just under 40 percent reporting that they feel stressed on a daily basis.
Added to this, a third of all employees said they had experienced burnout in the past year.
These stress problems are occurring despite efforts by employers to address employee wellbeing, calling into question how effective these efforts are.
Well over half (58 percent) of research respondents said their organisation has initiatives in place to monitor and improve employees’ wellbeing, while a similar number (61 percent) said their employer cares about their stress and emotional wellbeing of staff.
The issue of stress at work is set against a backdrop of increased employee mobility, with almost three in 10 (28 percent) employees saying they are likely to change jobs between now and the end of 2025.
Avillio chief executive Philippe Masson said: “Clearly, there’s a disconnect between the wellbeing initiatives in place and the actual needs of employees. Even though many feel their organisation cares about their stress and emotional wellbeing, rampantly high levels of stress and burnout suggest that current efforts are just not enough.”
Masson added that employer support needs to go beyond “awareness and tick-box policies”.
“It requires consistent, proactive, evidence-based solutions that effectively reduce stress and foster a healthier workplace. Such a significant proportion of workers taking time off consistently has clear financial implications for businesses and without robust solutions in place, they will continue paying the price. In addition, they risk losing out on top talent – and with so many looking to leave their jobs, it’s clear that retention should be a top priority.
“Greater levels of support to reduce stress and burnout would strengthen both employee wellbeing and staff retention rates. After all, a healthy and well-functioning workforce cannot be built on good intentions alone, but instead forged through meaningful policies that truly meet employees’ needs.”
