UK employees ‘burnt out’ as workplace pressures take their toll, research finds

Workers in the south of the United Kingdom are more likely to feel “burnt out” or “on edge” because of pressures at work than their northern counterparts, according to a new report.

Research into workplace stress by Crunch Accounting found that a quarter of employees in the south would consider leaving their jobs because they are burnt out or always ill, compared to 22 per cent of those in the north and 18 per cent of workers in the Midlands.

Similarly, 30 per cent of southern workers questioned said they always felt on edge, compared to 25 per cent in the north and 21 per cent in the Midlands. However, when it came to more general stress, workers throughout the country had more mixed experiences.

38 per cent in the North said they always felt stressed, compared to 34 per cent of southerners and 29 per cent of employees in the Midlands. Meanwile, 50 per cent of workers in the north and 49 per cent in the Midlands said they experienced “Sunday night dread”, compared to 33 per cent in the south.

These issues are affecting workers’ self-esteem, with 27 per cent of those in the south and 24 per cent of those in the north and the Midlands saying that they were remaining in their current positions due to a lack of confidence in their ability to secure another job.

Aggressive management styles were one of the most commonly cited problems, experienced by 17 per cent in the north, 16 per cent in the south and 14 per cent in the Midlands.

“Although a few regional trends have emerged from our survey, it’s concerning to see such a universally consistent picture of stress and anxiety caused by workplace issues,” said Helen Monk, people manager at Crunch Accounting, commenting on the findings.

“Perhaps not surprisingly, this issue seems to be affecting confidence levels and damaging self-esteem. It’s fair to say many of these people would be better off leaving for pastures new, whether that’s a different role, starting up on their own as a sole trader or founding a limited company.”