Most people think work has a positive effect on their overall wellbeing

A large majority of workers believe that work has an overall positive effect on their health and wellbeing, according to a new poll from Cirencester Friendly. The survey, carried out by Opinium Research in August among 2,420 working adults, found that seven in ten respondents felt that work benefits their health, with just over a third strongly agreeing. The findings suggest a broadly consistent view across generations and genders. Almost seven in ten Gen Z workers said work has a positive impact on their health, a figure only slightly lower than the three quarters of Baby Boomers who expressed the same view. Women were marginally more likely than men to agree, although the difference was slight.

Millennials were the most positive of all generations surveyed. Only a small minority of respondents in this age group said work does not support their health and wellbeing. They were also the most likely to say that being in work makes them feel satisfied, with more than two thirds reporting satisfaction and only a small share saying they felt dissatisfied.

The research comes at a time when the number of people out of work due to health issues has risen markedly in recent years. Cirencester Friendly’s Director of Distribution, Alan Waddington, said the findings underline the importance of helping people return to work after periods of ill health. He suggested that income protection products can assist in this by providing financial security and access to additional support services that may help people regain confidence and stability as they re-enter working life.

Although most workers believe employment contributes positively to their wellbeing, a minority hold the opposite view. Around one in ten respondents said work does not benefit their health, highlighting ongoing differences in how people experience working life.

The survey indicates that sentiment about work remains broadly favourable, despite concerns over rising sickness levels and wider debates about working culture. The consistency of responses across age groups suggests that views on the benefits of work are more aligned than often portrayed, particularly regarding younger generations.