- Due to workload demands, 20% of UK employees are taking less time off than they’d like during the festive period and 36% plan to respond to work emails even during their time off
- New findings highlight mounting pressures employees face at year’s end and opportunities for organisations to improve wellbeing through recognition and support
Workhuman®, the company revolutionising the way employees celebrate, connect with and appreciate each other in the workplace, today announces the findings from its latest Human Workplace Index, revealing key insights about employee wellbeing at year-end and key factors to improving it in 2025.
As 2024 draws to a close, many UK employees are facing added stress from increased workloads and looming deadlines. This underscores the need for organisations to step up their support, with recognition standing out as a key strategy to alleviate stress and bolster wellbeing.
End-of-year pressures and wellbeing
Despite its reputation as the “most wonderful time of the year,” December often brings heightened productivity demands. Over a third of employees point to increased workloads (35%) and the push to meet year-end KPIs (34%) as significant sources of increased stress.
Another contributor to year-end stress is the inability to fully disconnect, with close to 20% of UK employees taking less time off than they’d like during the festive period due to heavy workloads. A whopping 36% plan to respond to work emails even during their time off – leaving little room for rest and recharge. Unsurprisingly, employees have named work-life balance as the top priority for employers to improve in 2025, surpassing other factors like company culture and work arrangements.
Wellbeing a top priority for employees in 2025
Nevertheless, there is room for optimism when it comes to employee wellbeing in 2025. The majority of UK employees are experiencing stable or improved wellbeing, with 81% reporting their wellbeing is the same or better than last year – and 35% noting it has actively improved.
Likewise, many employees are prepared to take proactive steps to improve their wellbeing at work, with over one in three workers looking to enhance their productivity (37%), develop new skills (38%), or foster social connections (33%).
At the same time, employees are looking to their organisations to take action. Other than salary and benefits, the top answer for how employers can improve their wellbeing in the new year is simply to ‘recognise me more for my accomplishments’.
The power of recognition
In fact, especially during the high-pressure close of the year, public appreciation from colleagues plays a pivotal role in easing stress, with 60% of employees reporting it helps them manage the strain of meeting year-end goals. This impact is even greater among younger generations, rising to 67% for Gen Z and Millennials. These findings reflect a broader desire among employees for more structured recognition programmes – ones that not only foster a supportive culture but also make individuals feel genuinely valued for their contributions.
“At a time when employees overwhelmingly cite increased pressure and intensity as the biggest challenges to productivity, recognition offers a simple, meaningful way for organisations to support their teams and boost morale,” said Niamh Graham, Senior Vice President of Global Human Experience at Workhuman. “But employee recognition must be done right for it to be effective. It must go beyond holidays gifts or end-of-year bonuses, offering genuine expressions of appreciation to help employees feel seen, supported, and celebrated all year round. When leaders prioritise recognition and wellbeing, they’re not just easing immediate stress – they’re creating a stronger culture and sense of connection that will carry teams into 2025 and beyond in a very human way.”
Survey methodology:
The Human Workplace Index surveyed 1,000 full-time employees in the UK and was commissioned by Workhuman and conducted by Pollfish to gain insights into employee engagement and productivity.
About Workhuman:
For more than 20 years, Workhuman has been pioneering the human workplace by disrupting legacy and obsolete HR approaches to improve the employee experience at work, with solutions that engage with approx. seven million customer employees in 30+ languages, in 180 countries, generating 100 million instances of human connection. With dual headquarters in Dublin, Ireland and Framingham, Massachusetts, Workhuman deploys solutions and services at scale, committed to helping companies improve returns on their most important investment– their people. For more information, please visit www.workhuman.com.
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