A study conducted among 2,000 office workers has revealed that a staggering seven in 10 find their jobs stressful. Moreover, over one in 10 individuals (12 percent) carry work-related stress home with them, spending more than an hour each night worrying about their job. As a result, more than half of the respondents (56 percent) are contemplating alternative careers that offer less demanding workloads.
The research, commissioned by British Gas to coincide with the launch of its recruitment drive to hire 3,500 apprentices in green skills over the next decade, found that nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of workers would prefer a job that they could leave behind at the end of the day and pick up again in the morning. Specifically, individuals aged 45 to 64 were the most likely to desire this type of career.
Lewis Solway, a regional operations manager at British Gas, expressed concern over the high number of workers in the UK experiencing job-related stress, particularly in light of the growing reliance on technology and remote work, which can make it even harder to truly disconnect. Solway emphasized that trades like engineering offer the benefit of a job that can be left behind each day, in addition to the opportunity to develop new skills and make a tangible difference in people’s lives and the world.
The study further revealed that one-fifth of respondents find it difficult not to think about their job outside of working hours, with 48 percent checking their email inbox when they shouldn’t. Nearly half (48 percent) admitted to sending work-related emails during non-working hours, and an equal number (47 percent) have used their spare time to complete unfinished tasks.
Disturbingly, 29 percent of individuals feel stressed as soon as they get home, and 26 percent experience the same feeling just before starting work in the morning. One-quarter of respondents have work on their minds immediately after waking up, and 64 percent have lost sleep due to job-related concerns.
Workload and deadlines (59 percent) were cited as the most common sources of worry, followed by financial concerns (39 percent) and office politics (35 percent).
Given the choice, 56 percent of respondents would accept a reduction in their responsibilities for a stress-free job, and 39 percent would even consider taking on a more junior role. However, 49 percent appreciate the security their current job offers, and 45 percent are grateful for their wage.
Lewis Solway from British Gas highlighted that as the world moves towards a greener future and energy efficiency becomes a top priority, the demand for engineers continues to increase, offering job security. Solway, who himself trained as an engineer through an apprenticeship, emphasized the satisfaction of leaving work at the end of the day, knowing that a difference has been made, and the ability to switch off properly before a new day begins.