New Data Reveals Majority of UK Job Seekers Feel They Are Working More Than Ever

One of the UK’s leading HR and recruitment specialists, Gi Group, has asked nearly two thousand job seekers if they feel they’re working more than ever, with an overwhelming 86% of today’s candidates saying ‘yes’.

With more than 1,600 job seekers stating they feel we work more now than ever before, there is no surprise that workplace burnout and prolonged stress are sweeping across the UK labour market. Given the obvious correlation between the two, Cindy Gunn, Group Head of People at Gi Group, says that burnout prevention tactics and staff retention strategies are no longer optional investments for businesses, they are fundamental frameworks that must be in place to ensure a successful working environment.

Working more than ever: why burnout is rising

She said: “We’re experiencing some of the toughest times in modern recruitment, with vacancies falling month on month, which affects both those in employment and those looking for work. With financial pressures, and an unstable recruitment landscape, it is natural for feelings of stress and overwhelm to be creeping into modern workplaces. However, it is the role of the employer and HR professionals to ensure that this doesn’t lead to prolonged feelings of burnout.

“We have a fantastic team of 60 Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) across Gi Group who work tirelessly to ensure that our team always have someone to talk to, if they wish. We prioritise the mental wellbeing of our teams because our business simply couldn’t exist without them. It’s time for businesses to realign what is really important.”

Mental Health UK’s latest survey of workers found that one in five (20%) took time off work due to poor mental health caused by stress, rising to two in five (39%) among young adults (aged 18-24 years).

Gi Group’s own data showed that only 14% of job seekers who responded felt they weren’t working more than ever before, with 86% agreeing that as a nation, we do work more. Following hikes in National Insurance, rapid tech advancements, and industry skills shortages businesses are under more pressure than ever before to produce the same results with fewer resources.

Burnout prevention and staff retention

Cindy added: “Legislative changes will continue to create waves of adaptation and adjustment too, as the Employment Rights Act comes into effect over the coming months and year. We work at the frontline of the recruitment industry, so we know when businesses are flourishing and we know when they’re ‘counting the pennies’. However, despite the challenging times we’re facing, there is never a reason for investment in the mental wellbeing of your workforce to not be a priority.

“Now more than ever businesses need to ensure they are retaining their top talent. It’s a time for burnout prevention and a focus on staff retention. We see often that great employees start to look for an alternative role, thinking the grass is greener around the time they feel their workload is unmanageable. Sometimes it is hard to spot, as employees can mask the signals, but often there are telltale signs such as an increase in sick days, a quiet mood, push back on tasks which they’d usually complete without complaint. These are the signs to look out for.

How Gi Group supports its own people

“At Gi Group, we also offer dedicated ‘Let’s Talk’ sessions throughout the year that open up conversations around sensitive subjects to help establish a sense of community by sharing tips and support. Simple resources like our Mental Wellbeing Guide provide an educational tool to help colleagues learn how best to support people with mental health conditions, and to nurture a supportive working environment.

“We believe that providing an internal structure, and sharing training resources and building awareness, all combine to cement an inclusive working environment. It isn’t about having the greatest investment, it’s about having consistent and reliable support available for colleagues, if they need it.”

Read more about how we support temporary workers through our Employee Assistance Programme.

About the data

Gi Group’s ‘always on’ State of the Nation data takes a regular temperature check on the opinions of UK job seekers across a range of sectors and ages. In this survey, 1,892 applicants responded to the question ‘Are we working more than ever?’.

Yes: 1,622 (86%)
No: 270 (14%)