Workplace stress is no longer a hidden issue bubbling under the surface of British organisations. New research has revealed that more than half of UK workers are making mistakes at work due to stress. A finding that raises serious concerns about productivity, employee health and wellbeing and organisational culture.
According to the latest data, stress is not only affecting how people feel at work, but also how they perform, collaborate and communicate. The findings come at a time when the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has reported record levels of work-related stress, depression and anxiety across the UK workforce.
Stress is undermining productivity across the UK
The research, conducted by workplace training provider Astutis, found that 52.6% of Brits admit to making mistakes at work due to stress. In addition, over a quarter (28.5%) have missed deadlines as a result of feeling overwhelmed.
Perhaps more alarmingly for employers, one in four UK workers has called in sick at least once because of stress, highlighting the tangible impact stress is having on absence rates and workforce reliability.
These findings align with the HSE’s most recent statistics, which show that 964,000 workers suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety in the past year. Together, the figures paint a picture of a workforce under sustained pressure – and organisations paying the price in lost productivity and rising costs.
Workplace stress is fueling conflict and breakdown in collaboration
Stress isn’t just affecting individual performance; it’s also damaging workplace relationships.
The Astutis research found that nearly a third of respondents (32.9%) have clashed with a colleague due to stress. This suggests that elevated stress levels are eroding collaboration, increasing friction within teams and creating environments where tensions can quickly escalate.
When mistakes, missed deadlines and interpersonal conflict combine, the cost to businesses can be significant – not only financially, but culturally. High-stress environments can become breeding grounds for disengagement, burnout and staff turnover.
Why employees are suffering in silence
Echoing Sir Charlie Mayfield’s Keep Britain Working Review, one of the most striking findings from the research is how few employees feel able to talk to management about their stress.
The Workplace Silent Stress Survey 2025, which surveyed 553 UK workers, explored who people turn to when they feel stressed at work. Despite the clear impact stress is having on performance, only 4.7% said they would speak to their manager, and just 1.3% felt comfortable raising concerns with senior leadership.
This communication gap suggests that many employees do not feel psychologically safe discussing stress with those who are best placed to address it.
Steve Terry, Managing Director at Astutis, commented on the findings:
“These numbers portray a widespread workplace culture where employees may feel unsafe to raise stress-related concerns, preferring to suffer in silence.”
Turning to friends and family isn’t fixing the root cause
While employees may not be speaking to managers, they are not staying completely silent. The research found that over half of respondents were far more likely to confide in friends or family when feeling stressed.
Although external support can be emotionally valuable, Steve Terry warns that it may unintentionally prolong the problem:
“Although friends and family can offer emotional support, they have no power to implement changes to workloads or processes. It is management that is positioned to address the root causes that often underpin stress.”
Without open communication between employees and employers, stressors such as excessive workloads, unclear expectations or poor processes remain unaddressed – allowing pressure to build until it manifests in mistakes, absence or burnout.
The cost of ignoring workplace stress
The combined impact of absenteeism, presenteeism, reduced productivity and employee turnover means workplace stress is costing UK businesses millions of pounds every year.
When employees feel unable to speak openly, organisations lose valuable insight into operational pressures and cultural issues. Over time, this can lead to higher attrition rates, increased recruitment costs and a damaged employer brand.
Crucially, many of these outcomes are preventable – but only if organisations are willing to address stress proactively rather than reactively.
Creating a culture where employees feel safe to speak up
Based on the findings, Astutis is urging employers to examine their internal processes and workplace culture, with a particular focus on psychological safety and open communication.
Encouraging honest conversations between employees and managers can help organisations identify stress triggers early, adjust workloads, and introduce practical solutions before problems escalate.
The benefits are mutual. Employers can reduce lost hours, errors and turnover, while employees feel better supported, less stressed and more valued in their roles.
As workplace stress continues to rise across the UK, the message is clear: tackling stress is no longer just a health and wellbeing initiative – it’s a business imperative.
You can read the full Astutis report here.
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