Young people suffer from high stress at work. This is reported by a British study. Many young employees often miss appropriate structures and understanding of individual needs, or feel lonely in their daily work life.
The “Burnout Report 2025” by Mental Health UK examined how greatly stress and other factors impact the daily lives of employees. The result of the study: Many employees are heavily affected by stress.
However, it particularly impacts young employees, who feel overwhelmed and long for improvements in their daily lives.
Young adults are the most affected and cannot switch off after work
The key findings of the study:
- Nine out of ten employees report significant or extreme pressure and stress in the last year
- Particularly affected are young adults (18-24 years): They are most often absent due to stress-related mental health issues and are becoming less open to management (decrease from 75% to 56%).
- Young employees often suffer from unpaid overtime (48%), additional working hours due to the cost of living (46%), and isolation at work (44%).
- Only 33% of 18-24 year-olds can switch off well from work, while this is true for 46% of those over 55.
- In addition to work, sources of stress include sleep deprivation (61%), financial worries (49%), and isolation (39%).
Demand for better offerings against stress: Young employees report in interviews how the work environment is particularly challenging for them and poses risks for mental health. They often miss appropriate structures and understanding of individual needs, especially regarding neurodiversity.
The existing support offerings in the workplace are often outdated and do not meet the needs of young people. Young employees benefit the most from individual adjustments, “Mental Health” offerings, and a supportive supervisor.
Individuals aged 18 to 24 most often reported benefiting from appropriate adjustments in the workplace (54%), leave (51%), and professional support for mental health (44%) to reduce stress and protect against burnout.
Iceland introduced the 4-day workweek nationwide in 2019. Six years later, it is evident that it is beneficial for both employers and employees. This validates the demands that Generation Z has long had: for an optimized work-life balance and better working hours: A country in Europe introduced the four-day workweek six years ago; today we know: Gen Z was always right
