More than half of UK workers feel overworked, with many admitting they skip breaks, struggle to sleep and sacrifice family time due to pressure from their jobs.
New data from an employee wellness report from PR firm Jukebox Marketing shows that 53 percent of British workers believe they are overworked, with stress, fatigue and work encroaching on personal time becoming common experiences.
The report gathered responses from employees across the country to assess the state of work-life balance in 2025.
The findings suggest that long hours and unmanageable workloads are not just damaging to wellbeing but are also impacting productivity. More than half of respondents said they routinely check emails or answer work calls outside their contracted hours, while 38 percent said workload pressure affects the quality time they spend with family.
In addition, 44 percent said they eat lunch while working, and 41 percent struggle to find time to stay fit. Almost half said their role makes it difficult to achieve even 10,000 steps per day.
The cumulative impact of this overwork is taking a toll on physical and mental health. The report found that 20 percent of UK workers have taken time off in the past year due to high stress levels, while 38 percent said lack of sleep is affecting their productivity.
Work and Wallet Pressures
The cost-of-living crisis is also having an effect. With food prices rising, 60 percent of workers said they are now preparing lunch at home more often. While it may be a financially practical choice, the report notes that it can also be a symptom of reduced time or energy to manage proper breaks during the working day.
Many workers reported turning to caffeinated drinks to get through the day, with 72 percent starting their morning with coffee or tea. But reliance on caffeine may contribute to energy crashes later in the day, worsening fatigue and limiting concentration.
Call for Cultural Change
Stephen Jury, managing director of Jukebox Marketing, said employers must take the growing strain on workers seriously if they want to maintain a productive workforce.
“Brits appear to be feeling the pressures of work, and, with further issues such as the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, managing stress levels is now more difficult than ever before.
“An unhealthy work-life balance not only leads to physical and mental health risks for your employees, but also growth risks for your business – workers are taking time off due to stress, resulting in absences.
“If you want your business to be as strong as possible, ensure that your employees have enough time to complete basic exercise and spend time with their families. A healthier employee means a healthier business.”
The report concludes that a sustainable work-life balance is essential not just for individual wellbeing but also for long-term business performance. Time for movement, social interaction and rest are all essential to employee health and should be supported rather than squeezed out by excessive workloads.