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Half of all workers do nothing to relieve stress

Stress management

Time-poor UK workers are not doing anything to relieve stress outside of work – ironically often due to not having the time – according to new research out today.

A survey of 1,015 UK adults in employment carried out by learning marketplace, Obby.co.uk, revealed that 48% of British workers do little or nothing at all to relieve work stress.

48% of UK workers say that they do โ€˜little or nothingโ€™ to reduce stress levels outside of work.

For an overwhelming majority of 65% who claimed this was the case, it is a lack of free time that is the biggest obstacle. With the average Brit working a 40.2 hours per week, not including time spent thinking about work, not having the time to decompress from the daily grind could be damaging the nationโ€™s workforce.

For one in five, money is the reason post-work stress relieving activities are not pursued.

Just 19% of UK workers say their employer provides healthy ways to de-stress as part of their โ€˜perksโ€™ package. Meanwhile, a whopping 79% would welcome stress-busting activities in the office with a clear 50:50 divide on whether Brits โ€˜expectโ€™ employers to provide this level of employee care.

Just 19% say their employer provides benefits that relieve stress.

Of those who do regularly take measures to reduce work-based stress, itโ€™s exercise and sport that tops the poll of most popular stress-busting activities. 44% find relief from a physical outlet, while enjoying personal interests and hobbies came a close second (39%).

Meanwhile, 35% say they turn to spending time with friends and family to relax them.

Tom Batting, co-founder at Obby.co.uk said: โ€œItโ€™s worrying how many workers claim they do not prioritise getting the stress relief that is so important for maintaining mental health. The irony is that this can actually become a vicious cycle โ€“ if we donโ€™t make time for stress relief, this can lead to becoming more stressed or even burnout, both of which can reduce productivity further.

โ€œAs such, itโ€™s in bossesโ€™ interests to ensure that employees actually do take measures to manage their stress levels โ€“ whether thatโ€™s communicating how important this, allowing them flexi-time so that they can attend whatever activity it is that they do to relieve stress, or even providing company-sponsored classes or workshops. As well as reducing stress, this can positively impact on an employeesโ€™ focus, concentration and efficiency in the workplace. We see this time and again – employers who provide workers with healthy and stress-busting โ€˜perksโ€™ like yoga, meditation or even arts and craft workshops reap the rewards in a more productive โ€“ and satisfied โ€“ workforce.โ€

Workers in the professional services (e.g. accounting, law) industry struggled the most to do anything to relieve stress, with 58% saying they donโ€™t do anything โ€“ closely followed by those in education (55%) and healthcare (53%).