Nearly four in ten Brits overeat when stressed.
Nearly three in ten Brits, 28.6%, are drinking and smoking more due to workplace stress, according to the new Workplace Silent Stress Survey 2025.
The survey, conducted with over 553 participants, highlights how stress affects employees’ health, behaviour, and productivity, revealing the hidden costs for both staff and businesses.
Astutis, the workplace training provider behind the research, found nearly four in ten Brits overeat when stressed, while 15.7% undereat, showing how workplace pressure disrupts normal routines and eating habits.
Sleep disruption emerged as the biggest challenge, with almost three-quarters of respondents, 72.7%, reporting that stress carried home from work impacts rest and overall well-being.
Brenig Moore, Technical Director at Astutis, explained that harmful coping habits, such as increased drinking and smoking, raise long-term health risks, including heart disease, liver problems, and chronic illness.
He added that stress also contributes to mental health issues like anxiety and depression, while poor sleep and unhealthy habits further reduce focus, energy, and workplace performance.
The survey identified major causes of workplace stress, including high workload and tight deadlines, lack of control over tasks, bullying or poor relationships, unclear roles, job insecurity, and poor work-life balance.
Symptoms of work stress can appear emotionally, behaviourally, and physically.
Emotional signs include irritability, mood swings, depression, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed.
Behavioural signs include reduced productivity, social withdrawal, decreased motivation, and mistakes, while physical symptoms include fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, stomach issues, and insomnia.
Over half of Brits admit that workplace stress causes mistakes at work, ranging from minor errors to costly oversights, which could cost businesses millions if left unaddressed.
Left unresolved, this cycle harms morale, increases staff turnover, reduces engagement, and damages workplace culture, creating both financial and operational consequences for organisations.
The survey found that 63.2% of participants had considered leaving their jobs due to stress, underscoring how pressure at work can push employees to the brink of burnout.
Moore highlighted ways to manage and prevent workplace stress, including open communication with managers, moving more during the day, organising tasks effectively, and using employee assistance programmes.
Flexible working arrangements and wellbeing initiatives can also help staff manage stress, reduce harmful habits, and maintain better mental and physical health while boosting productivity.
Astutis’ findings reveal that stress is not just a personal concern but a business-critical challenge, affecting health, performance, and long-term organisational success across the workforce.
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