Young workers more prone to stress than older colleagues, survey finds

Mary.Isokariari 11 October 2016 in Education and skills, Employment, Society and welfare Tagged Business, Engagement, Organisational development, Performance management, Research - 2 Minutes

Almost half of young workers are experiencing high levels of stress, according to the latest Global Benefits Attitudes Survey.

Last year alone a record 17 million working days were lost due to stress. Photo credit: Fotolia

The Global Benefits Attitudes Survey 2015/2016, produced by Willis Towers Watson, found that half of younger UK workers (Generation Y) have high levels workplace stress. The figures for older members of the workforce, Generation X (44 per cent) and Baby Boomers (35 per cent), suggests that younger workers are more affected by workplace stress than their older colleagues.

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The study of 1,895 employees in the UK found that the top causes of workplace stress for Generation Y were inadequate staffing and low pay, these were the top concerns across all generations in the workforce. A lack of work/life balance was also a major concern for younger workers along with a lack of clarity on job expectations, while Baby Boomers were more worried about organisational culture and excessive change.

The report also found that 65 per cent of Generation Y are more worried about their finances than older workers, only 55 per cent of Generation X workers and 38 per cent of Baby Boomers are concerned about money.

Rebekah Haymes, senior consultant at Willis Towers Watson said: “Work/life balance appears as a stronger stress driver for Generation Y employees, while the characteristics of the organisation play a more prominent role for older employees.”

Last year alone a record 17 million working days were lost, costing the economy at least £2.4billion, according to the UK Statistics Authority. This compares with 13.6 million days lost in 2014 and 15.2 million days during 2013.

Haymes added: “In an environment with tight margins, employers cannot easily manage issues around low pay and staffing levels. However, they can marshal resources and focus on providing guidance on stress management and coping strategies through their wellbeing programmes.”