A recent survey highlights growing concerns about workplace toxicity in the UK, with Sheffield, Manchester, and London leading the charge.
- The survey found that over half of UK workers feel stressed, with significant numbers in major cities feeling unable to take their annual leave.
- Many employees in these cities cite management pressure as a barrier to taking time off, contributing to a rise in toxic work environments.
- Employees aged 25-34 and men are particularly affected by the expectation to work through their leave, reflecting the pressures of hustle culture.
- Despite the pressures, there is a noted increase in workers taking their full leave entitlement, though gender and age differences persist.
Survey results from Timetastic indicate a troubling trend in the UK’s workplace environment, especially in Sheffield, London, and Manchester, labeled as the country’s toxic workplace capitals. In these cities, 10% of workers in Sheffield, 9.5% in London, and 9% in Manchester report being unable to step away from work due to excessive stress and management pressure. This contrasts with a national average of 7.5%.
Employees aged 25 to 34 seem to bear the brunt of this pressure, with 17% feeling the impact of ‘hustle culture’ that discourages taking breaks. The gender analysis reveals that 9% of men versus 6% of women feel similarly pressured by management, underscoring disparity in workplace experiences.
Oliver Higenbottam, Managing Director of Timetastic, emphasized the importance of utilizing annual leave, which is vital for health, well-being, and productivity. He pointed out that more needs to be done by workplaces to foster environments where taking breaks is not just allowed but encouraged for all employees.
Despite these pressures, there’s a glimmer of improvement: in 2023, 31% of workers took their full annual leave entitlement, up from 29% the previous year. Notably, women appear more likely to use all their leave, with 34% doing so, compared to 29% of men. Among age groups, workers aged 45-54 lead in taking full leave, with 45% ensuring they take all their allocated days.
The financial aspect of leave remains significant, especially during a cost of living crisis. Fewer workers opted to exchange leave for money in 2023 than in 2022, showing a shift towards valuing time off over additional income. However, men still appear more inclined to sell their leave and receive payments for unused days, highlighting ongoing financial disparity.
The survey sheds light on the pressing need for cultural shifts in UK workplaces to prioritize employee health and work-life balance.
