Workers fear burnout as employers tighten resources

Younger workers were particularly worried about being overworked after national insurance contributions are increased

Two thirds of workers (62%) are worried about being overworked this year, a survey by recruitment firm Robert Half, has shown.

Findings from the survey of 1,200 UK workers, published on 13 January, suggested that overworking fears were causing a negative sentiment among the workforce, as six in 10 (60%) employees thought businesses were more concerned about profit and productivity than their people.

Meanwhile, 30% of workers reported that they believed the increase to employers’ national insurance contributions (NIC) will put more pressure on them to do more with less.

HR is responsible for managing employees’ workloads amid business cuts, according to Ellie Clutton, practice manager for HR, executive support and accounting operations recruitment at Robert Half.

Speaking to HR magazine, she said: “When there’s a hiring slowdown or tight budgets it’s easy to look at ways to redistribute workload across the business. 

“However, there has to be a strong sense of expectation management from HR teams. 

“They are likely to face more push-back from workers and managers alike in terms of resource allocation, but if there simply isn’t the resource, then the business case for hiring needs to be strengthened.

“The alternative is to face the resource and cost implications of reversing burnout, replacing lost employees and training new recruits who will, most likely, follow the same route as their predecessors.”


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Following the Autumn Budget in October, employers took a “cautious approach to workforce planning” Jeanette Wheeler, chief HR officer at HR software company MHR, told HR magazine in an article in November. 

Meanwhile, data by FTSE 250 recruiter PageGroup on 13 January showed that business confidence had declined across Europe and the UK. 

In the UK, profits fell by 14%, which the recruiter attributed to businesses being nervous about taking on new staff.

Younger workers were particularly worried about being at risk of burnout, Robert Half found, as 37% of 18-to-34-year-olds said the NICs increase will create more pressure on them to do more with less.

HR should ensure that employees feel able to communicate problems with their workload, Clutton added.

She continued: “A lot of the problems that are linked with being overworked come down to a communication issue. 


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“There needs to be a transparent and two-way dialogue so that those who feel they are at risk of burnout or are struggling with workload know the route to discuss this and, crucially, feel listened to. 

“With job roles constantly changing, it’s also important that HR teams utilise the knowledge of their suppliers too."

HR should also use data-driven insights to assess whether employees are being overworked, according to Cassie Gasson, co-CEO of learning platform Thrive.

Speaking to HR magazine, she said: "To assess whether employees are overworked, HR needs to rely on data-driven insights. Regular workload audits, employee pulse surveys and transparent conversations can provide an honest picture of where the pressure points are."

Training employees to manage their workload could also ensure resiliency against future challenges, Gasson added.

She continued: "Upskilling is a powerful tool; it enables employees to handle emerging challenges, reduces dependency on new hires, and fosters engagement.

"Leveraging technology can also ease repetitive tasks, freeing employees to focus on impactful work."

She urged employers to show employees they care: "The findings from Robert Half’s research are a wake-up call for businesses to prioritise their people

"Businesses must take a proactive approach to show they care. Transparency is key: explain decisions, acknowledge challenges and provide support like access to mental health resources or wellbeing initiatives."

Robert Half's representatived surveyed 1,200 UK workers between 30 December 2024 and 3 January 2025.