New research reveals a culture of chronic overwork with data highlighting burnout, hospitalisation, and time off work. Experts warn it’s not just a wellbeing issue—it’s a serious threat to UK health and business performance.

According to a survey of 2,000 UK desk workers commissioned by resource scheduling tool Resource Guru, 84% of workers put in overtime, 68% work weekends, and 28% say they’re experiencing burnout in their current job. Among those suffering burnout, 14% have ended up in hospital, 29% have been prescribed medication, and 28% have seen a therapist.

A full breakdown can be found in Resource Guru’s State of (Over)working report, along with an interactive Burnout Risk Index highlighting which regions and demographics are most at risk.

From a mental health perspective, the study found that 36% of desk workers report anxiety and 16% report depression because of work. Among those experiencing stress, anxiety or depression, 7% said they’ve had suicidal thoughts and 19% reported emotional numbness. From a physical health standpoint, 49% are suffering from sleep issues, while 16% experienced heart palpitations.

The findings are supported by commentary from medical professional and mental health advocate, Dr Matthew Chan and burnout specialist Leanne Spencer who warn that, without urgent action, the UK is ignoring a health and productivity crisis.

“The numbers are tragic, but not surprising,” says Dr Matthew Chan. “We know that chronic stress and consistent pressure are major contributors to both psychological and physiological illness. If this many people are ending up in hospital or on medication due to work, burnout clearly isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a public health concern.”

For companies, the consequences are equally stark. Among those reporting burnout:

  • 52% have taken time off work
  • 36% say they’ve made mistakes
  • 35% say they’ve delivered lower-quality work

“I strongly believe burnout should be one of a CEO’s top strategic priorities,” says Leanne Spencer. “It leads directly to lost productivity, reduced quality of work, absenteeism, and ultimately affects the bottom line.”

The research points to three core drivers of overworking and burnout, along with preventative solutions:

1. Boundaryless work culture: 26% of workers feel uncomfortable saying no to extra tasks, even when they’re already overloaded.

“We’ve normalised pushing past our limits,” says Leanne. “Leaders need to make it clear that rest and boundaries are respected, not punished.”

2. High workloads without support: 53% of burnt out workers blame high workloads, yet 44% of all respondents say their company doesn’t use any resource management or scheduling tools.

“Without formally managing workloads, visibility of hours worked is lost, and overworking is inevitable. Businesses can use resource scheduling software to help teams distribute workloads in a sustainable way,” says Leanne. 

3. Unmanageable deadlines: 33% of those burnt out cite unrealistic deadlines as a cause of burnout, with 1 in 10 desk workers having slept in the office to meet a deadline.

Leanne explains that “planning realistic deadlines and accounting for project breaks prevents burnout. Employers should gather data to see what time was spent on past projects, informing future project plans, and leading to accurate deadline setting and time for recovery.”

Resource Guru Co-Founder Percy Stilwell reinforces that overwork can be tackled with smarter planning and a culture shift.

“The results of the survey are concerning, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Time is the most valuable commodity in life,” he says. “That’s why we built Resource Guru to help companies manage workloads and increase productivity—leading to improved employee wellbeing and reduced burnout. After all, happy teams are good for business.”

For further insight, Resource Guru has published a detailed breakdown of their State of (Over)working study, including additional statistics and expert commentary. An interactive Burnout Risk Index is also available, highlighting the UK regions and workforce groups most at risk based on key burnout indicators.

View the State of (Over)working 2025 report and Burnout Risk Index.