Stress of extra Summer workloads can be overwhelming

Over a third of workers feel extreme pressure or even experience panic attacks when taking on their colleagues’ workloads over the Summer, a new study from Cornerstone OnDemand claims. The study of over 2,000 UK adults, claims that 81 percent of Brits will take on a colleague’s workload in their absence. Furthermore, while taking on a colleague’s workload, 48 percent of workers are more likely to work through their lunch break or work more than their working hours, contributing to the feeling of stress.

Taking on another colleague’s workload on top of their own is particularly felt by younger generations with 43 percent of 18 to 24-year olds feeling extreme pressure or having panic attacks vs 24 percent of 45 to 54-year olds.

However, while nearly half of workers (48 percent) feel relieved when their colleagues come back from their time off, two-fifths of them (40 percent) feel that their senior colleagues trust them to take on more responsibility and 32 percent feel that they learnt more by taking on a senior colleagues work than in the last month of their own role. Employees also use their colleague’s absence to learn and develop their own skills with 39 percent of respondents learning more skills as a result of taking on their colleagues’ workload.

“The pressure of modern living has led to a growing epidemic in the workplace, stress. Of course, everyone is entitled to their annual leave and those that are left in the office may need to support the workload, but overworking and unrealistic demands will lead to burnout and ultimately, impact business success,” said Liggy Webb, CEO of The Learning Architect. “Knowing that increased stress is felt during the summer period, organisations can now prioritise workplace wellbeing and ensure that their workforce is happy and healthy all year long.”