Staff shortages remain a significant issue, with 78 percent of workers reporting experiencing at least one symptom of burnout since the start of the year.
Almost two fifths (38%) of workers are reporting “unmanageable” workloads, which in turn is having a knock-on effect on their wellbeing
This is according to Totaljobs’ latest Hiring Trends Index, which also shows that almost half (47%) of workers want to see additional staff hired to make workload more manageable,
Further, over a quarter (27%) of businesses cite skills shortages as a challenge in the coming months.
Also, 60 percent said they felt tired or drained, 37 percent said they felt overwhelmed, and 36 percent said they have a cynical and negative outlook.
Employee turnover accelerates and wellbeing decreases
The cost-of-living crisis certainly has a role to play here. These burnout symptoms are being reported against a backdrop of increased financial anxiety amongst the cost-of-living crisis – which has reached a 30-year high.
Significantly, 57 percent of workers agree that they are worried their salary won’t go far enough to cover basic needs, such as household bills, according to the research.
Recent Totaljobs research highlighted the impact the cost of living was having on the job market, and this is being reflected when it comes to staff turnover. Securing a higher salary within the same sector was identified by employers as the top reason why workers are resigning (26%), followed by securing a higher salary in a different sector (19%), and pursuing a more senior role (16%).
Only 8 percent of workers said that their wellbeing would not affect their decision to leave their job, with over one in ten (13%) admitting that this has caused them to hand in their notice in the past. Over a third (36%) said that their stress levels would contribute to their decision to leave their job.
This highlights the importance of having wellbeing support in the workplace to retain staff.
What can employers do to increase employee mental wellbeing?
Since the start of 2022, 40 percent of the workers surveyed agreed that work was the biggest factor negatively impacting their mental health and wellbeing since the start of 2022.
When asked what support they’d like to see from their employer, mental health days off came out on top (53%) followed by hiring additional staff (46%), more open conversations about mental health in the workplace (33%), introduction of wellness initiatives (32%) and the introduction of mental health first aiders (24%).
These concerns and needs have not gone unnoticed, with a quarter (25%) of employers surveyed expressing concern about the mental wellbeing of their staff. Heading into Q2, 23% are continuing to encourage staff to take time off to benefit their mental health, while 17% are training mental health first aiders. 16% are introducing wellbeing initiatives for the first time.
“It’s clear that the number of open vacancies is starting to be felt by workers – with many feeling the impact of an unmanageable workload. This, combined by the ongoing anxiety and strain caused by the cost-of-living crisis, means that the wellbeing of workers is a priority, and businesses need to do their bit to create an environment where people feel their voices are heard and their mental health cared for,” says CEO of Totaljobs, Jon Wilson.
“While employers are making good strides in offering wellbeing initiatives, skills shortages mean that many workers will continue to feel the pressure of empty seats in their teams. As a result, employers will be focused on shortening their time to hire, while supporting existing staff who may be taking on higher workloads in the interim,” adds Wilson.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
