Stress at work makes young people twice as likely to skip exercising
Pluxee’s recent research reveals an alarming “exercise gap and wellbeing gap” that exists between young people and directors. This raises concerns about the future of Britain’s younger workforce.
According to new insights from Pluxee, a leading employee benefits and engagement partner, the UK’s youngest workforce generation struggles under the stress of work. Young people are twice as likely to sacrifice their physical health because of fatigue at work as directors. Pluxee is a leading employee engagement and benefits partner. According to their latest insights, 45% younger generations skip exercising regularly due to fatigue at work, while only a quarter directors do. This is a sign of a dangerous cycle in which stress can erode physical health and lead to deteriorating mental resilience.
The data presents a disturbing picture of workplace well-being. Only 40% of younger people feel energized at work, as compared to 34 of directors. Mental Health UK found that younger employees were more likely to be unable to work due to stress or burnout than their older counterparts. High stress levels can have a significant impact on workplace productivity, and limit the types of tasks that employees are able to complete.
Job satisfaction among young professionals who struggle to balance their mental and physical well-being drops to 60%, compared to 86% for directors. The wellbeing gap has a direct impact on productivity. Only two thirds of junior professionals feel productive in their role.
Tom Nash warns that the wellbeing gap between juniors and seniors is not sustainable for the future of employment. Businesses that don’t act now and take stress and burnout seriously will lose future leaders before they reach their full potential. It will have a direct impact on the productivity and results of businesses. Employers must rethink their support for all employees but especially those in the formative years of their careers, before this crisis escalates.
The research comes as the government intensifies its focus on mental health in the workplace through the Get Britain Working White Paper. This highlights the increasing challenge faced by young professionals who enter the workforce with mental health issues. The findings highlight the need for immediate government intervention as well as employer-led initiatives that can boost business productivity.
Pluxee partnered up with Ashley Giles (former professional cricketer, CEO of Worcestershire County Cricket Club) to empower businesses to empower their teams in high-pressure environments.
Giles stresses the importance of putting in place the right tools for support, especially after his own experience with stress. “In early 2004, I found myself in a very dark place. I felt completely out of control, and I was on a downward spiral. Do people have the skills to handle their tasks? Are they in the right environment with the tools and resources to maintain their mental or physical health? Are we, most importantly, training their mind to cope with the pressures that we all face?” These are important questions, but they’re also big ones.
Pluxee empowers employees on all levels by helping businesses offer smarter and more impactful benefits that support mental health, physical well-being, and financial security. Pluxee’s new eBook Game On: Empowering teams to Thrive through Pressure provides practical strategies for cultivating a healthier and more resilient workforce.
The original version of this article Young professionals are twice as likely to avoid exercise due to stress appeared first on Human Resources News.
