New research suggests workplace stress is having a significant and often hidden impact on employee wellbeing and organisational performance across the UK. According to recent findings, more than half of British workers report making mistakes at work due to stress, while a quarter say they have called in sick at least once because of how overwhelmed they feel.
The research was carried out as part of the Workplace Silent Stress Survey 2025 by workplace health, safety and environmental training provider Astutis. The survey questioned 553 participants to better understand how stress manifests at work and who employees turn to for support when they are struggling. The results indicate that while stress is common its discussion within organisations remains limited.
Astutis reports that more than one in four workers have missed deadlines due to stress and nearly a third have clashed with colleagues as a result. These pressures are contributing to rising costs for employers through lost hours absenteeism and reduced performance.
The findings arrive as the Health and Safety Executive reports that 964,000 workers this year have experienced work-related stress depression or anxiety. Together, the data points to a widespread issue affecting productivity collaboration and psychological safety in workplaces across Britain.
Stressed Employees ‘Unlikely to Speak to Managers’
The survey reveals a clear reluctance among employees to discuss stress with managers or senior leaders. Only 4.7% of respondents said they would speak to their manager about what is concerning them and just 1.3% said they would engage with leadership. In contrast 43.6% reported speaking to their partner and 12.8% confiding in friends.
Steve Terry Managing Director at Astutis says, “These numbers portray a widespread workplace culture where employees may feel unsafe to raise stress-related concerns preferring to suffer in silence.
“Although friends and family can offer emotional support they have no power to implement changes to workloads or processes. It is management that is positioned to address the root causes that often underpin stress.”
The findings suggest that many employees do not view the workplace as a psychologically safe environment to discuss stress openly. While managers may believe relationships with teams are strong the data indicates that employees continue to look outside the organisation for support.
Silent Stress Linked to Productivity Loss, Turnover Risk
The consequences of unspoken stress extend beyond individual wellbeing. The research shows that 52.6% of respondents have made mistakes at work due to stress 28.5% have missed deadlines and 32.9% have clashed with colleagues. More than a quarter say they have called in sick and 63.2% report considering leaving their job because of stress.
Astutis notes that stress rarely remains confined to the workplace. Many respondents reported impacts on sleep relationships and overall wellbeing indicating that work-related pressures often spill into home life. More than half of respondents believe that speaking openly about stress could damage how they are perceived or raise questions about their suitability for their role.
Astutis is encouraging employers to review internal processes leadership behaviours and workplace culture to create environments where employees feel able to raise concerns. The organisation argues that addressing stress openly can reduce turnover absenteeism and errors while improving morale and engagement.