Wellbeing among younger workers requires greater attention as research reveals they are more than twice as likely to take extended sick leave than older colleagues.
Two-thirds (66 percent) of 18-24 year-olds and 61 percent of 25-34 year-olds have taken extended sick leave in the past five years, compared to 26 percent of workers aged 55 and over.
The research from consultancy Barnett Waddingham also shows that 27 percent of younger employees had been absent from their job for periods of between one to five months.
More young workers report feeling anxiety, stress, depression, and burnout than their older colleagues. Among 18-24 year olds 79 percent experience anxiety, 86 percent work related stress, 74 percent burnout and 71 percent experience depression. These levels are similarly high for workers aged 25-34 (76 percent, 85 percent, 72 percent, 66 percent respectively).
The levels are slightly lower for employees aged 45-54, with 68 percent feeling anxious, 73 percent stressed, 55 percent feeling burnt out and 56 percent dealing with depression. Workers aged 55 and over were least likely to report these kinds of problems, with 50 percent reporting anxiety, 62 percent stress, 40 percent burnout, and 38 percent depression.
The difference between younger and older workers could be partly explained by further research findings that show that the younger cohort prioritises flexibility, wellbeing, and personal fulfilment above the nine to five.
Around a quarter of younger workers have taken a lower-paying job to ensure a better work-life balance (24 percent of 18-24 year olds; 26 percent of 25-34 year-olds). While 30 percent of 18-24 year olds are planning to take a lower paying role in the near future.
In addition to this, 28 percent of 25-34 year-olds plan to change the industry they work in completely in the near future.
Career breaks are another area where younger workers continue to break the mould.
More than a quarter (28 percent) of 18-24 year-olds have already taken an extended career break to focus on their wellbeing and personal goals. A further 29 percent plan to do this in the future. More than a fifth (22 percent) of 25-34 year-olds have also done this, with a further 23 percent planning to take a career break.
Corporate lobbying to encourage employees back into the workplace has failed to erode expectations that flexibility and working should be a core employer offer across all generations.
Julia Turney, partner and head of platform benefits at Barnett Waddingham, said: “We are witnessing a fundamental redefining of people’s attitudes towards work. Younger workers are rejecting the traditional corporate ladder, while prioritising their wellbeing and work-life balance above all else. The figures are clear: if businesses don’t offer the flexibility that these people expect, they could struggle to retain crucial talent while risking a disengaged workforce and stretched bottom line.
“At a time when business costs are set to skyrocket in coming months, employers are now walking a financial tightrope – with a requirement to minimise employee risk, while remaining productive and profitable. Here, the organisations that use data to understand core needs of their workforce – rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach – will be best placed to retain talent, boost engagement, and future-proof their business.
“And, as the government highlights in its ‘Get Britain Working’ whitepaper – there is an urgent need for business to prioritise the health of their workforces; not just as a moral imperative, but as an economic and business necessity.”
