NHS staff who are in the early stages of their careers have grown more unhappy and stressed over the last decade. Over half of these young employees now suffer from workplace stress.
Researchers at the Nuffield Trust, a think tank for health and social care, analysed 20 years’ worth of data from the NHS England Staff Survey in order to determine if there were differences between the experiences and motivations experienced by clinical staff based on their age.
The study was the first to look at how responses to surveys have changed with age.
The survey has shown that all age groups are experiencing a shift in their attitudes towards work and pay. This is especially true over the last 10 years. There were clear spikes of stress and dissatisfaction amongst all generations in the wake of the pandemic, and the recent pay disputes.
The gap between the experiences of NHS’s young and old workers has widened significantly from 2013-2023. Young staff are now more unhappy with their jobs.
Stress levels among staff aged between 21-30 years have increased by 14 percentages points in the last decade. In 2023, 52% of employees will report being ill due to work-related stress compared to 38% in 2013.
The proportion of workers aged between 51 and 65 who reported being ill due to work stress decreased over the same time period (from 43 percent to 40 percent).
From 10% to 22% of employees aged 21-30 are unhappy with their salaries, while the number has increased by 1% among those aged 51-65.
The proportion of employees aged 51-65 saying they “rarely or always look forward to working” has also fallen from 13% to 10%.
Early Career Demands
Thea Stein, Nuffield Trust’s chief executive, said that the traditionally difficult start for the youngest NHS staff members has gotten even harder over the last decade. Gen Z workers are now required to balance exams, demands of early careers, and learning on the job, all while facing escalating costs.
Our findings raise real concerns about the NHS’s retention of its youngest workers. They are at the beginning of their career but are becoming increasingly unhappy. These workers are vital to the future of health care. “Policymakers and employers must act now on what NHS staff survey shows about what next-generation clinicians will need to thrive in the NHS.”
Researchers also looked at the variation in overtime rates. The pandemic affected all staff, and they did more overtime without pay. In 2023 the rates for all age groups were lower or similar to 2013 levels.
The age group of 41-50, 51-65 and above is the one most likely to work unpaid overtime. In 2023, 16% of employees in these age groups will do at least six unpaid hours a week compared to 7% for those between 21-30.
Researchers believe that the rising financial pressures are the reason why all age groups do more overtime than in 2013. This is especially true for the youngest. In 2023, almost a third (30%) (compared to 20%) of employees aged 21-30 worked at least six paid hours per week.
“Ticking Time Bomb”
The findings were described by Professor Nicola Ranger, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing.
She said that young nurses are the future workforce but the ones at the beginning of their career are the least happy. She said that a new nurse will face high pressures in understaffed hospitals, stagnant wages and few prospects for advancement.
In these conditions, there is no wonder that so many people feel undervalued or overworked.
A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care stated: “NHS employees have been overworked since years and we understand stress and moral injury caused by working in a broken system.
Through our Plan for Change we are transforming the NHS and giving staff the necessary tools to provide the best possible patient care.
Nuffield Trust limited its analysis to clinical staff, including nurses, nursing assistants and medical and dental professionals, as well as those who are in training. It also included midwives and paramedics.
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