Work-related stress resulted in 22 million lost working days across Britain in 2024-25, according to recent statistics. Burnout, recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a state of physical and emotional exhaustion, is a contributing factor.
Jo Hooper, a former communications professional, experienced burnout after achieving her dream role at 30. She described working long hours and saying yes to everything, which eventually led to two breakdowns within a year. She later left her career and was diagnosed with anxiety and depression.
A report from the charity Mental Health UK indicates that two in five young workers aged 18 to 24 took time off in 2025 due to poor mental health caused by stress. Dr Jill Williams, a psychologist, suggests that perfectionists or those who consistently go the extra mile are more susceptible to burnout.
Employers have a legal duty to protect workers from risk factors that cause work-related stress, according to the Health and Safety Executive. Trade unions have also raised concerns about staff leaving jobs due to burnout in sectors such as midwifery and teaching, calling for changes to address root causes like low pay and impossible workloads.