Burnt-out Britain

Britain’s workforce is heading for a well-being meltdown, according to research from global professional services firm, Towers Watson.

The Global Workforce Study (GWS), which surveyed 32,000 employees worldwide, reveals that more than one in three UK employees say they are often affected by excessive pressure in their job. Over half said that they have been working more hours than normal over the last three years and half expect this to continue for the next three years.

From pay cuts to longer working hours, the GWS highlights the demands on workers that the recession has brought about, with only half of UK workers feeling their stress levels at work are manageable. Despite increasing requirements for businesses to provide workers with advice on health and well-being, just a third of employees feel that their senior leaders support such policies.

Results for the UK were broadly in line with those seen across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) with similar numbers of workers feeling that there was excessive pressure, longer working hours and fewer resources available in the workplace.