Majority of employees feel stressed by their job

A new survey has revealed that the majority of UK employees surveyed say that work is the third biggest cause of their stress after lack of sleep and financial worries.

Of those surveyed, 70% admitted to at least one aspect of work that contributed to their overall stress.

The Ciphr report also looked into the differences between what men and women found more stressful.

The results are as follows:

• Work in general (39% of women vs 35% of men)
• Their workload (38% vs 31%)
• Their working hours (22% vs 25%)
• Their boss (23% vs 20%)
• Their organisation’s workplace culture (21% vs 20%)
• Commuting (18% vs 21%)
• Their colleagues (22% vs 16%)
• Job security/unemployment (18% vs 17%)

According to the findings, Gen X (those aged between 45-54) are more likely to feel stressed by their jobs than any other generation.

Claire Williams, chief people and operations officer at Ciphr, said, “Ciphr’s latest research provides some interesting, yet worrying, insights into the high levels of work-related stress that exist across all job roles.

“One finding that stands out for me is how one in nine employees – that’s millions of people in the UK – feel stressed every single day. Work is not necessarily always the cause, granted, but it can be a significant contributor.”

Claire added, “If 11% of your workforce – likely more – is stressed daily, then it is going to have a big impact on their home lives and their work lives. So, employers need to be mindful of the role they can play in helping to relieve an individual’s stress and anxiety.

“Unrealistic workloads and time pressures, overbearing bosses, unsupportive colleagues, and toxic workplace cultures, can all trigger stress. This can interfere with people’s focus and productivity, and negatively affect our happiness and job satisfaction. It can also lead to higher staff turnover and absenteeism.

“Some stressors are always going to be around, and there are many things outside of an employer’s control that can still take a toll. But there are many things that organisations can, and must, do to actively support their employees’ mental health and wellbeing with empathy and understanding.

“If people are raising concerns about their workloads or working hours don’t ignore it – make changes where possible. The key lies in cultivating a workplace culture that prioritises employee wellbeing. One where discussing stress, and its causes and effects, is normalised and encouraged to help identify potential issues before they escalate.

“This includes training managers to recognise signs of mental distress and ensuring employees know what support is available to them via health insurance plans and employee assistance programmes.”

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