The UK’s increasing ‘stress epidemic’ is threatening to derail British business.

New research from productivity and performance coaching provider, Avilio, has found that almost 12 million UK employees experience burnout in the past 12 months.

The study found 36% of respondents experienced burnout in the last year which – when applied to the UK working population – means that 11.9 million workers would fall into this category.

Avilio commissioned an independent, nationally representative survey of 1,261 UK workers to understand current levels of stress and burnout, 506 of whom are in management positions. In the survey, burnout was defined as an extreme and persistent form of stress that causes physical, mental and emotional exhaustion.

Philippe Masson, CEO of Avilio, explained: “If employers do not look after their teams and they are persistently stressed, then they are more likely to take time off sick and to leave. Organisations risk losing talent to the stress epidemic that we are currently experiencing.

“Investing not only money, but also time and care into looking after teams and their well-being pays for itself many times over. Employees that are not stressed deliver better results, are more invested in their work and loyal to their employers. It should therefore be a priority for organisations to put in place meaningful solutions – not tick-box exercises.

“More broadly, it’s important to note that talent is fundamental to commercial success in the UK economy, so tackling the stress crisis could be a crucial factor in boosting economic activity.”

The research found that stress and burnout have a significant detrimental impact on workers and their ability to perform their roles. 22% of survey respondents said they had taken time off from work due to stress, while almost half of people in management positions (46%) say their job is their main source of stress and anxiety.

It is the second consecutive year that Avilio has surveyed workers on their stress levels. Comparison of the figures suggests experience of stress is stubbornly common with no progress made since last year:

• 36% of respondents say they experienced burnout in the last year compared to 34% in the 2024 survey.
• 22% took time off from work due to stress compared to 24% in the 2024 survey.
• 29% want to change jobs compared to 28% in the 2024 survey.
• 24% are actively looking for a new job compared to 28% in the 2024 survey.

The survey also showed that 24% of respondents are actively looking for a new job and 29% want to change jobs between now and the end of 2026.

“This has significant ramifications for employers, who not only have to pay for employees that are absent and therefore inactive, but also for the recruitment and training of replacement staff,” it added.