More than half of UK professionals report burnout as workloads rise

More than half of UK professionals report experiencing workplace burnout, with understaffing and heavier workloads emerging as the biggest drivers, according to research from Robert Half.

The study found 55 per cent of UK professionals reported burnout, compared with an average of 48 per cent across the nine countries surveyed.

More than half (54 per cent) of UK respondents experiencing burnout pointed to heavier workloads caused by understaffing, while 39 per cent cited lower team morale following restructuring or workforce reductions.

A further 39 per cent said feeling stuck in their career was contributing to burnout.

The findings, released ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, highlight the connection between employee mental health and how work itself is designed, resourced and managed.

They also suggest that employers wanting to tackle burnout may need to look beyond individual wellbeing interventions and consider workforce capacity, job demands, organisational change and opportunities for career development.

The UK recorded the fourth-highest level of burnout among the countries included in the research.

Canada had the highest reported level at 62 per cent, followed by the United States and Brazil, both at 59 per cent. The UK stood at 55 per cent, compared with 45 per cent in the Netherlands, 43 per cent in Germany, 42 per cent in Belgium, 38 per cent in Switzerland and 32 per cent in France.

Matt Weston, senior managing director, UK & Ireland at Robert Half, said: “Burnout is clearly no longer an issue affecting a small group of employees. When more than half of professionals say they’re experiencing it, employers recognise it as a workforce issue with implications for productivity, retention and long-term business performance.

“Employers need to recognise that addressing burnout isn’t simply about offering support when people reach a crisis point, but taking a proactive approach. Creating environments where workloads are manageable, career development remains visible, and employees feel equipped to perform at their best over the long term requires regularly assessing resources, expectations and culture, and adjusting when needed.

“World Mental Health Day provides an opportunity to reflect on whether those foundations are in place, because addressing burnout requires more than wellbeing initiatives alone. Businesses also need to consider how work is structured, whether teams have sufficient support and resources, and how employees can sustainably manage increasing demands.”

The findings add to the case for employers to treat burnout as an organisational health and workforce risk issue, rather than placing responsibility solely on employees to become more resilient.

Robert Half recommends employers regularly assess whether workforce capacity matches business demands, help employees prioritise workloads and set realistic expectations and maintain conversations around workload, wellbeing and career development.

The company also recommends equipping managers to identify and address signs of burnout and providing additional support during periods of organisational change.

The research surveyed employed professionals across nine countries. In the UK, 1,000 professionals took part.

Respondents rated their level of workplace burnout from one to 10, with those recording a score between six and 10 classified as experiencing burnout.