Employees facing redundancy fears, anxiety and pressure in the workplace  

More than a third of employees (34 per cent) fear being made redundant if their company is struggling, according to new research from Reward Gateway | Edenred. The findings reveal how business performance directly affects how people feel at work – and how well they perform. 

Falling business confidence, rising costs and volatile markets are increasing pressure on workplaces. The survey shows that 30 per cent of employees feel anxious when their company isn’t doing well, while a quarter (25 per cent) say they feel under pressure. Nearly one in five (18 per cent) worry they will miss out on a promotion, even if they meet the criteria, because their organisation cannot support progression. 

These fears are closely tied to wellbeing. Eighty-one per cent of employees believe poor wellbeing contributes to lower productivity. Forty-one per cent say their wellbeing significantly affects how productive they are, while 36 per cent say it has some impact. Only 5 per cent feel their wellbeing has no impact on their performance at work. 

Although most people describe their wellbeing as good (72 per cent), one in ten say their wellbeing at work is poor. A further 18 per cent feel neutral. Some employees report stronger boundaries, with 17 per cent saying they avoid letting work affect their wellbeing. Others say low pay (11 per cent) or lack of seniority (11 per cent) means they feel detached from how the business performs. 

Chris Britton, People Experience Director at Reward Gateway | Edenred, says the findings show that employees are shouldering the same concerns as business leaders. 

“With constant news of redundancies due to rising employment costs, it’s no surprise that a significant number of workers fear for their jobs and livelihood. Ultimately, it’s their wellbeing at risk, and this not only impacts their productivity, but can turn into absences due to burn-out, stress and sickness down the line.” 

Britton says. He further adds that employers must prioritise wellbeing to maintain performance, protect retention and support people through economic uncertainty. 

“A business is only as good as its workforce, which is why it’s crucial for businesses to ensure their employees are happy, satisfied and thriving. Supported employees are more likely to work harder, take on more tasks and stay loyal. In the current worklessness crisis, this is more important than ever.” 

The research, based on responses from 4,002 UK employees, highlights a clear link between job security, wellbeing and productivity – and the need for employers to strengthen support as economic pressures continue.