A new report released by training provider Corndel today reveals concerning levels of workplace anxiety across the UK. Half of British employees regularly experience anxiety at work, with many blaming intense workloads, relentless time pressures, and the impossible task of balancing professional and personal lives.
Younger workers are at particular risk, with 64% citing anxiety due to poor management practices. The issue affects organisations at all levels, with one in five HR leaders admitting that they also experience workplace anxiety daily, while half feel it weekly.
The report found that half (51%) of employees feel anxiety once a week or more, with younger workers and those in organisations of 1,000-2,499 are at most risk. Younger workers reported the highest levels of workplace stress, with 64% of those aged 18-34 reporting experiencing anxiety at least once a week, compared to just 32% of those aged over 55.
The causes of this stress include heavy workloads and time pressures (54%), balancing work and personal life (36%), a lack of clarity or direction from management (26%) and insufficient support or resources to perform tasks effectively (26%). Respondents also reported that productivity is being hindered by poor management (31%), lack of resources (31%), and excessive meetings (29%)
Stress is affecting employees at all levels, with 49% of HR leaders admitting experiencing anxiety themselves at least once a week.
In 2023/24, 16.4 million working days in the UK were lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety, posing a serious challenge to organisational sustainability. Stress also has a negative impact on productivity.
Nine out of 10 HR leaders who have implemented work-life balance policies and leadership training to reduce workplace anxiety reported positive results. Key interventions showing significant impact include leadership training (97%), goal setting (96%), and work-life balance policies (95%).
However, only 43% of employees reported receiving resilience training in the past year, with 34% describing it as minimal. Despite 84% identifying mental health support as critical to their satisfaction and performance, 55% of employees report receiving no such training, leaving many unprepared for workplace pressures.
Amanda Blackmore, Director of HR and People at Corndel, noted, “Workplace anxiety is a concern not just for employees but also for the leaders supporting them. Through my conversations with HR leaders across industries, I hear the same challenges—balancing employee well-being with workplace demands is a constant pressure. Many leaders find themselves managing the stress of their teams while also dealing with their own workload pressures and anxieties.
“This is where targeted leadership training makes a real difference. We’ve seen that investing in leadership development not only helps leaders better support their teams but also strengthens their own resilience, leading to improved retention, morale, and productivity. In a climate where workplace anxiety is increasingly impacting people and performance, organisations that take proactive steps to embed leadership training with aligned well-being initiatives will have the competitive edge.”
