HRreview 20 Years
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Subscribe for weekday HR news, opinion and advice.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

Peace and goodwill? Work stress peaks for many in December

-

winter399
A winter scene by the American printmaker Rockwell Kent – many people find the festive period just too stressful

Do you believe in peace and goodwill and this most wonderful time of the year? Well good on you, you’re just, just about in the majority. Apparently quite a few of us don’t see Christmas as the most wonderful time of the year. In fact, according to new research, 42 percent  say December is one of the most stressful months of the year. Balancing work and family life and the rush to take holidays before the year apparently piles on the pressure, the new research from MetLife Employee Benefits shows.

The firms statistics shows the biggest cause of stress in December is balancing work and home life, which was identified by 38 percent of interviewees, while colleagues taking holidays was cited by 32 percent as a driver of stress.

With such high stress levels, the dreaded, or in the odd rare case, not so dreaded, Christmas party is not much consolation for many employees. 18 percent of those surveyed did not have a Christmas celebration at work, and for those that do, around two in five (37 percent) said they would not be going along. 41 percent of those who are not going say they prefer to keep their work and home life separate while 24 percent say the date clashes with family duties.

Robert joined the HRreview editorial team in October 2015. After graduating from the University of Salford in 2009 with a BA in Politics, Robert has spent several years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past he has been part of editorial teams at Flux Magazine, Mondo*Arc Magazine and The Marine Professional.

Latest news

The Great Employer Divide: What the evidence shows about employers that back parents and carers — and those that don’t

Understand the growing divide between organisations that effectively support working parents and carers — and those that don’t. This session shows how to turn employee experience data into a clear business case, linking care-related pressures to performance, retention and workforce stability.

Scott Mills exit puts spotlight on risk of ‘news vacuum’ in high-profile dismissals

Sudden departure of a long-serving BBC presenter raises questions about how employers manage high-profile dismissals and limit speculation.

Employment tribunal roundup: Secondment status, dismissal reasoning and whistleblowing protections examined

EAT rulings clarify secondment status, dismissal reasoning, discrimination tests and whistleblowing protection, with practical lessons on process and legal thresholds.

Mental health cited in a third of sickness absence cases ahead of sick pay changes

Stress, anxiety and depression are driving a growing share of workplace absence as new sick pay rules expand eligibility from April.
- Advertisement -

Peter Dando: Why ‘salary sacrifice’ needs renaming

Salary sacrifice schemes are designed to help employees make smarter financial choices - but they remain widely misunderstood.

HR hiring rises as firms respond to compliance pressure and employment law changes

HR and accounting roles see strong pay and hiring growth as businesses prepare for new employment law requirements and greater regulatory complexity.

Must read

Gitte de Brabander: Strengthening employment rights – lessons from Belgium

As the UK Government introduces legislation for stronger worker protection, what lessons can be learned from Belgium?

Workplace Disputes – a duty to mediate?

Between 2004 and 2009, employers and employees had to...
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you