UK workplaces are facing a deepening health and productivity problem, as two major studies reveal the damaging effects of overwork and poor job quality on employee wellbeing, with some workers ending up in hospital as a result.
A survey of 2,000 UK desk workers, commissioned by management software firm Resource Guru, found that 84% regularly put in overtime, 68% work weekends and 28% say they are experiencing burnout in their current job. Among those reporting burnout, 14% have ended up in hospital, 29% have been prescribed medication, and 28% have seen a therapist.
Meanwhile, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) Good Work Index 2025, based on responses from 5,000 UK employees, reports that a quarter of workers — an estimated 8.5 million people — say their jobs have a negative impact on their mental health (25%) or physical health (24%). The report shows the negative effects of work on wellbeing have remained persistently high for eight years.
Burnout Leading to Hospitalisation and Medication
Resource Guru’s State of (Over)working report details a culture of chronic overwork in UK offices. Mental health concerns are widespread, with 36% of desk workers reporting anxiety and 16% reporting depression due to work.
Among those experiencing stress, anxiety or depression, 7% said they have had suicidal thoughts, and 19% reported emotional numbness. Sleep issues affect 49% of respondents, and 16% have experienced heart palpitations.
“The numbers are tragic, but not surprising,” mental health advocate Dr Matthew Chan remarked. “We know that chronic stress and consistent pressure are major contributors to both psychological and physiological illness. If this many people are ending up in hospital or on medication due to work, burnout clearly isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a public health concern.”
Leanne Spencer, a wellbeing specialist and speaker, said staff burnout should be a top concern among company bosses.
“I strongly believe burnout should be one of a CEO’s top strategic priorities,” she said. “It leads directly to lost productivity, reduced quality of work, absenteeism, and ultimately affects the bottom line.”
Among those experiencing burnout, the consequences for business are significant: 52% have taken time off work, 36% have made mistakes and 35% say they have delivered lower-quality work.
Enduring Damage to Mental and Physical Health
The CIPD Good Work Index highlights that almost half of UK employees (46%) have experienced a physical health condition in the last 12 months, while 42% have experienced a mental health condition. The most common conditions cited were musculoskeletal problems (32%), anxiety (27%), sleep issues (27%) and depression (15%).
The survey also shows that employees who say work harms their mental health are less likely to be satisfied with their jobs (37% compared with 93% for those who feel work impacts their mental health positively), more likely to quit in the next year (34% versus 14%) and less likely to go above and beyond for their employer (39% compared to 69%).
“While certain aspects of job quality have improved for some workers, for a significant minority work isn’t getting better and is negatively impacting their health,” said CIPD chief executive Peter Cheese.
“This points to a real need to look beyond the symptoms of unhealthy work to its root causes, including job design and workload management, lack of awareness or capabilities in good people management and the supportive cultures needed to help people give their best,” he said.
Prioritising wellbeing in the workplace made sense both ethically and commercially, said Cheese, adding that it benefited employees while also improving performance, increasing staff retention and lowering rates of health-related absence.
“Tackling work-related stress, one of the main causes of sickness absence and associated with rising levels of economic inactivity, must be a priority for both employers and policy makers,” he said. “The government’s efforts to encourage more focus on the wellbeing of the workforce will require more organisations to equip managers with the time and skills they need to manage people properly, and to keep people well and in work.”
Core Drivers of Overwork and Burnout
Resource Guru’s research points to three main causes of overworking and burnout:
Boundaryless work culture: 26% of workers feel uncomfortable saying no to extra tasks, even when already overloaded. “We’ve normalised pushing past our limits. Leaders need to make it clear that rest and boundaries are respected, not punished,” said Spencer.
High workloads without support: 53% of burnt out workers blame high workloads, yet 44% of respondents say their company does not use any resource management or scheduling tools. Spencer noted: “Without formally managing workloads, visibility of hours worked is lost and overworking is inevitable. Businesses can use resource scheduling software to help teams distribute workloads in a sustainable way.”
Unmanageable deadlines: 33% cite unrealistic deadlines as a cause of burnout, with 1 in 10 desk workers having slept in the office to meet a deadline. Spencer said that “planning realistic deadlines and accounting for project breaks prevents burnout. Employers should gather data to see what time was spent on past projects, informing future project plans, and leading to accurate deadline setting and time for recovery.”
The Role of Line Management and Organisational Support
The CIPD report finds that just six in ten managers feel they have the training and information (60%) or the time (59%) to manage staff well. But support is improving: the proportion of people who feel they have a supportive manager has grown from 74% in 2023 to 79% in 2025, and 69% of workers feel their manager is open and approachable on mental health issues, up from 63% in 2023.
With the UK Government currently reviewing how to keep more people healthy and in work, both reports underline the urgent need for organisations to address root causes of unhealthy work, including job design, workload management and the development of supportive management cultures.