Wellbeing News

Employee stress ‘costing UK businesses millions each year’
Nearly half of employees in the UK technology and professional services industries experience high levels of stress, leading to significant financial and operational risks for businesses, according to new research. The study, conducted by Walking on Earth (WONE), a...

One in three older employees ‘take time off for mental health’
Much has been said about younger generations' attitudes towards mental health and their workplace - but new research highlights a growing mental health crisis among older employees, too. Workers aged 50 and over now make up a third (33%) of the UK workforce - and...

Burnout Britain: workplace anxiety on the rise among UK employees
A new report from training provider Corndel reveals that half of British employees regularly experience workplace anxiety, with many citing excessive workloads, time pressures, and difficulties balancing professional and personal commitments. Younger workers are...

Almost a third of employees admit to ‘pulling a sickie’ at work
New research from MetLife UK reveals that 30 percent of employees have either taken or would consider "pulling a sickie" - taking a sick day despite being healthy. The research also looked into the reasons why employee take time off work. A concerning 40 percent of...

Almost a third of working parents report ‘severe’ levels of stress
Working parents in the UK are reporting unprecedented levels of stress, according to the latest Modern Families Index (MFI) by Bright Horizons Family Solutions. The survey, which included responses from 3,000 working parents, reveals that nearly one-third of parents...

Four-day work week medical trial shows wellbeing and productivity gains
The University of Sussex and Thrive, a learning technology company, have released the results of the UK’s first medical trial of a four-day work week. The three-month study, held between July and October 2024, examined the impact of a reduced working week on employee...

National Grief Awareness Week: bereavement in the workplace
As National Grief Awareness Week begins, new research by MetLife UK takes a look at how bereavement is addressed in both personal and professional contexts. The research finds that nearly a quarter (23%) of bereaved adults in the UK grieve alone without seeking...

Global Workplace Report 2024: happiness is key to retention and productivity
The Global Workplace Report 2024 presents a detailed analysis of employee happiness and its impact on workplace dynamics, drawing on over 400,000 responses from employees across 100,000 organisations globally. Compiled by WorkL and informed by the book Happy Economics...

NHS staff feel ‘taken for granted’ as they face unparalleled pressure during festive season
New research from NHS Charities Together found that while 72% of UK adults acknowledge NHS staff as having the most difficult job during the festive season, NHS workers feel taken for granted. Despite public awareness of the challenges the festive season brings, many...

Young workers at risk of sexual harassment in hospitality sector
As the festive season approaches, many young people across the UK take on temporary roles in the hospitality sector to earn extra income. Pubs, restaurants, and hotels experience a significant uptick in staff during this period, with young adults and students making...
Wellbeing Analysis

Emma Gross: Domestic violence, suicide and the role of employers
Domestic violence is a pervasive issue that extends far beyond physical abuse, encompassing emotional, mental, and economic exploitation. It is a global concern, deeply intertwined with mental health challenges and societal dynamics. Contrary to outdated stereotypes,...

Dr Rodrigo Rodriguez-Fernandez: Addressing men’s mental health in the workplace
As cost-of-living pressures, extreme weather-related events and geopolitical tensions persist globally, many employees are feeling a connected mental health strain. Findings from the International SOS Risk Outlook Report 2024 highlight how 80% of respondents recognise...

Dr Macarena Staudenmaier Keglevich: Is Gen Z driving better standards for health support at work?
The UK is currently grappling with a workforce sickness epidemic, compounded by long NHS waiting times. With a record 2.8 million people off work, affordable health cover for employees has never been more important or in demand – as recent data has shown. There’s an...

Lesley Cooper: Why employers must take stronger action to address the gender health gap
Although women typically live longer than men, they often experience a greater number of health challenges as they grow older. Yet around the world, millions of women at all stages of life still struggle to access the healthcare, treatment, and support they need....

Sam Grice: Taking stock on your employee support this Grief Awareness Week
Grief is a deeply personal experience that can grind our lives to a halt - emotionally, professionally and physically. It is a fact of life and as employers we need to understand how to support our employees through these moments with clarity and compassion to free up...

Andrew Swinand: Why Kindness at Work Pays Off
When anxiety is high and morale is low, kindness isn’t a luxury - it’s a necessity. With mass layoffs, economic uncertainty, and geopolitical tensions, kindness is needed now more than ever, especially at work. Research suggests that kindness yields positive outcomes...

Kate Cleminson: How can employers help to beat burnout?
In January last year, New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern announced she was resigning as prime minister because she no longer had "enough in the tank" to lead after six turbulent years in power. Ardern admitted that leading the nation through the Covid-19 pandemic and the...

Ian Moore: Is HR burnout about to impact your team?
The past few years have been tough on HR professionals. There has been the pandemic-driven remote working to navigate, the impact of Brexit on recruitment, and now we have an impending new bill that could overhaul all the employee regulations we have become used to,...

Aoife Greally: How lawyers can improve physical and mental wellbeing at work
Achieving the ideal work-life balance has long been a pursuit for professionals everywhere, particularly in demanding fields such as the legal industry, says Aoife Greally. This goal continues to be crucial, underscoring the importance of a healthier equilibrium...

James Collings: What does Sunak’s proposed changes to sick note procedures mean for HR professionals?
As part of Rishi Sunak’s speech on reforming welfare, a heavy focus was applied to the large number of those off on long term sick and the large volume of younger people within that group signed off with depression or anxiety, alongside a comment suggesting that the...
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