Employees across the UK entered 2026 feeling stretched but surprisingly upbeat, new data shows, following a year defined by burnout, disrupted rest and a strong attachment to work.
Research from HR platform Employment Hero offers a clear look at how these patterns played out. Its newly released Employment Uncovered: Inside the Story of UK Work in 2025 report draws on aggregated data from over 100,000 small business employee records and a national survey of 1,000 workers, revealing a workforce juggling patchy downtime, burnout and a growing desire for meaningful work.
Annual leave figures suggest a stable year on paper, but behind the numbers is a different picture. Many workers struggled to disconnect during their time off, with younger staff particularly likely to check emails while on leave or take sick days for mental recovery.
Despite the pressures, nearly seven in 10 employees said they enjoyed their jobs in 2025, and many reported a lasting sense of pride in their work. That contradiction – strain mixed with satisfaction – has shaped the workplace mood heading into the new year.
More leave days booked, but few fully switching off
On average, workers took 19 days of leave in 2025, with December remaining the most popular month for time off. Fridays were 20 percent more likely to be booked than other days, followed by Mondays, and the Thursday before Good Friday emerged as the most in-demand pre-holiday date outside the festive period.
But beneath the numbers, the data revealed a culture of unrestful breaks. A quarter of employees did not use their full leave allocation, and 44 percent said they felt pressure to remain available while on holiday. Among 18–34-year-olds, that figure rose above 50 percent.
This difficulty in disconnecting was linked to a perceived lack of autonomy and the pressure to stay visible, particularly in fast-moving or hybrid teams. Many younger staff said stepping away from work felt like a risk rather than a right.
December the year’s most stressful month
Rather than winding down, December brought a spike in pressure. The aggregated data from over 100,000 small business employee records showed that workloads, deadlines and personal obligations all intensified in the final month of the year.
The research found that this pressure extended into January, creating a two-month stretch of heightened stress for workers already low on reserves. It was seen as a reflection of the wider challenges of 2025 – economic uncertainty, tighter teams and thinner margins.
Between January and October, UK employees took an average of seven sick days. While older staff recorded more days off overall, the motivations behind absences revealed a notable change across the workforce.
Nearly half of respondents said they had taken a sick day because they felt mentally or emotionally exhausted, while 39 percent cited feeling overwhelmed and in need of a break. Around 28 percent had used a sick day when not physically unwell, and 17 percent did so more than once.
Younger workers were more likely to use sick leave for rest and recovery, while older colleagues tended to spend the time on life admin. A smaller group also used sick days to extend weekends or attend personal events.
Amid the strain, job satisfaction held firm
Despite the ongoing pressures, 69 percent of workers said they enjoyed their jobs in 2025. Among self-employed and freelance staff, it rose to 83 percent, while workers in London reported a 14 percent increase in job satisfaction compared with the previous year.
Nearly half of respondents described their work as a core part of their identity, and four in 10 said they would continue working even if they won the lottery. These figures point to a complex relationship with work, one shaped by pressure and purpose in equal measure.
Kevin Fitzgerald, UK Managing Director at Employment Hero, said the research showed a resilient but strained workforce. He said employees had continued to show up and take pride in their roles, even when struggling to rest or recover.
“People are juggling higher costs, fewer opportunities and intense pressure to stay switched on – and our data shows the toll that’s taking,” he said. “When nearly half the workforce feels the need to check emails on annual leave or use sick days as an excuse to actually switch off, it’s clear something needs to change.
“But this research also reveals something I think is uniquely British: even in a difficult year, most people still enjoyed their jobs. They showed up, worked hard and found pride in what they do.”
Looking ahead to 2026
The report suggests that 2026 presents an opportunity for employers to reset expectations around rest, recovery and meaningful work. As demands remain high, workers are seeking clearer boundaries and more structured downtime, especially during peak periods like December.
For organisations planning ahead, this may require fresh investment in wellbeing strategies, clearer messaging around leave and a renewed focus on helping employees disconnect without guilt.
Above all, the research reveals the importance of understanding not just how often employees take time off but how that time is experienced. Because without genuine rest, even the most engaged workforce will face limits to its resilience.
