Search Results for: stress

Stressed staff contribute average ten hours free labour a week

by • Knowledge, News, Workplace

Stressed workers contributing average 10 extra hours work a week

British employees contribute an extra £142 billion a year to their employers, by working on average, an unpaid ten extra hours per week. According to a study by Travelodge of 2,000 workers across the UK, nearly three quarters (72 per cent) routinely do the extra hours, which translates into an average saving of £6,635 for employers. So great is the trend, that one in ten workers cram a whole extra week of unpaid work on top of their normal working schedule so that they can manage their workload, and a third of Britons now work an additional 16 hours a week for free than they did prior to the start of the recession. (more…)

Survey: Work and poor management biggest cause of stress

by • News, Workplace

Stress-300x193Work is the most stressful factor in people’s lives with one in three people (34 per cent) saying their work life was either very or quite stressful – and the top cause (32 per cent) is frustration with poor management. Research commissioned by Mind found work more stressful than debt or financial problems (30 per cent) or health (17 per cent).  However, employees don’t believe that managers are actively tackling causes of stress in the workplace, with only one in five people saying they felt their line manager took active steps to help staff manage stress (22%) or mental health conditions (19%).

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Remote work linked to mental health concerns in major US study

Remote work linked to mental health concerns in major US study

by • Flexible working, News

A major new study has suggested that the rapid growth of remote work since the pandemic has played a significant role in rising levels of social isolation and poor mental health among workersA major new study has suggested that the rapid growth of remote work since the pandemic has played a significant role in rising levels of social isolation and poor mental health among workers, although researchers stress that the findings relate primarily to fully remote work rather than hybrid arrangements. The research, published in the journal Science, analysed data from five nationally representative surveys covering almost 590,000 US workers between 2011 and 2024. According to the authors, the expansion of remote work may account for around one third of the increase in mental distress recorded over that period. (more…)

Fathers who work from home fear ‘return to office’ rules could force them to quit, study claims

Fathers who work from home fear ‘return to office’ rules could force them to quit, study claims

by • Flexible working, News

More than one in six fathers who currently work from home say they would quit their job if required to return to the office full-timeMore than one in six fathers who currently work from home say they would quit their job if required to return to the office full-time, according to new research from King’s College London, which suggests employers risk losing experienced staff if they tighten office attendance policies. The report, When Fathers Work from Home, from the King’s Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, argues that remote working has become an important part of family life for many fathers, but warns that workplace cultures continue to discourage men from making full use of flexible working arrangements. (more…)

Remote work linked to rising isolation and poorer mental health, study finds

Remote work linked to rising isolation and poorer mental health, study finds

by • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing

The rapid growth of remote work since the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to increased social isolation and worsening mental health among workers, according to a major new studyThe rapid growth of remote work since the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to increased social isolation and worsening mental health among workers, according to a major new study published in the journal Science. Researchers from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the University of Virginia and Harvard University analysed data from five nationally representative surveys covering nearly 590,000 American workers between 2011 and 2024. Their findings suggest that the shift towards home working may account for around one third of the rise in mental distress recorded in the United States since the pandemic. (more…)

Optimizing your environment: principles from workplace to home

Optimizing your environment: principles from workplace to home

by • Company news

It's pretty amazing how the secrets to a productive, low-stress workplace are often the same ones that make a home feel restful and clear, even for public sector management.It’s pretty amazing how the secrets to a productive, low-stress workplace are often the same ones that make a home feel restful and clear, even for public sector management. Think about it: an office set up for focus and efficiency isn’t all that different from a home designed for relaxation. Once you get these basic ideas, you can really fine-tune both your work and personal spaces. This means you’ll get more done, feel less stressed, and generally enjoy life more. It all starts with realizing that your surroundings aren’t just background noise; they actually play a big part in how well you do each day. (more…)

Is being back in the office making you desk bound?

Is being back in the office making you desk bound?

by • Comment, Wellbeing, Workplace design

According to the British Medical Bulletin, UK office workers spend up to three quarters of their day sittingMost UK offices were not designed with movement in mind. They were designed to fit as many people as possible into a given space, keep overheads manageable and ensure everyone had somewhere to plug in a laptop. According to the British Medical Bulletin, UK office workers spend up to three quarters of their day sitting. Scientific Reports puts it more precisely, between 68 percent and 82 percent of the working day is spent seated, the highest proportion of any occupation. (more…)

Government report warns of ‘economic catastrophe’ as young people struggle with mental health

Government report warns of ‘economic catastrophe’ as young people struggle with mental health

by • News, Wellbeing, Workplace

Former health secretary Alan Milburn has warned that Britain risks a “generational, societal and economic catastrophe” unless employers and government adapt to rising levels of poor mental health among young peopleFormer health secretary Alan Milburn has warned that Britain risks a “generational, societal and economic catastrophe” unless employers and government adapt to rising levels of poor mental health among young people. An interim review led by Milburn into the growing number of 16 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training argues that businesses will need to provide greater flexibility, pastoral care and mental health support to what he describes as an “anxious generation”. (more…)

Distractions at home undermine the benefits of remote work, study suggests

Distractions at home undermine the benefits of remote work, study suggests

by • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing

New research from Durham University Business School suggests that remote work may undermine people’s wellbeing and productivity when domestic distractions interrupt the working day. The study, led by Professor Jakob Stollberger, found that interruptions from home life can disrupt concentration, reduce task completion and have a negative impact on employees’ wellbeing. Based on diary data from 87 remote workers across sectors including IT, finance and education, the research tracked participants’ experiences over a ten day period. Respondents reported their workload and wellbeing four times a day, allowing researchers to examine how work patterns and interruptions changed over time. (more…)

Re-humanising the workplace: why prevention, support and standards matter more than ever

Re-humanising the workplace: why prevention, support and standards matter more than ever

by • Comment, Wellbeing

There is growing recognition that the workplace needs to become more human again, not less.There is growing recognition that the workplace needs to become more human again, not less. For all the talk of performance, productivity and retention, too many organisations still treat stress, ill health and emotional wellbeing as secondary matters. They are not. They sit at the heart of business success. The figures from the Keep Britain Working report, an independent review commissioned by the UK government and led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, the former chair of John Lewis, are a wake-up call. The value at stake is enormous. Employers face an estimated £85 billion a year in lost output and costs linked to ill health. For government, the additional burden in welfare payments and NHS demand is around £47 billion annually. On top of this lies the wider cost to the economy through lower participation, and the human and social costs of lost opportunity, stalled careers and reduced life chances. (more…)

Study confirms that digital tools blur boundaries between work and personal life

Study confirms that digital tools blur boundaries between work and personal life

by • News, Technology, Wellbeing

A new academic study confirms something you probably already know: digital tools are eroding the boundary between work and personal life.A new academic study confirms something you probably already know: digital tools are eroding the boundary between work and personal life. According to the new research, things are getting worse and we experience constantly growing psychological strain as a result of an always on working culture. The study, published in the International Journal of Electronic Finance, finds that widespread use of information and communication technologies such as smartphones, laptops and cloud platforms has enabled greater flexibility but also extended work into nearly all aspects of daily life. (more…)

Employee engagement falls worldwide as AI investment fails to deliver productivity gains

Employee engagement falls worldwide as AI investment fails to deliver productivity gains

by • AI, News, Wellbeing, Workplace

Global employee engagement has declined for a second consecutive year, despite rapid investment in artificial intelligence, according to Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report.Global employee engagement has declined for a second consecutive year, despite rapid investment in artificial intelligence, according to Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report. The study, based on one of the largest ongoing surveys of employee experience, suggests that organisations are struggling to translate technological change into measurable improvements in performance or working life. Employee engagement fell to 20 percent in 2025, down from a peak of 23 percent in 2022 and its lowest level since 2020. This decline has significant economic implications, with Gallup estimating that low engagement costs the global economy around $10 trillion in lost productivity, equivalent to 9 percent of global GDP. (more…)

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