Half of hybrid workers took time off due to anxiety in the past year

Half (51%) of hybrid workers have taken time off work as a result of stress or anxiety in the past year, missing an average of 6.1 days each, according to research by London workspace provider Fora.

Its report, which surveyed 1,030 UK hybrid workers, found that this equates to 28.6 million missed days of work in the past 12 months.

More than a quarter (28%) of UK employees now work on a hybrid basis, however, among these, 80% reported experiencing workplace anxiety since the pandemic started and hybrid working became more commonplace.

When asked about causes of workplace anxiety, 48% of respondents highlighted struggling with noise and distractions, while 29% cited worries around being constantly on show. More than two-thirds (68%) have noticed an increase in workplace anxiety among their colleagues since the pandemic.

Top of the list of things that could be adapted within offices that would help to reduce anxiety were access to wellness spaces within workplaces (cited by 40%) of respondents and mental health programmes, cited by 35%.

Meanwhile, 38% said modern facilities help them feel supported and 61% thought introducing more art into workplaces would make their office feel more inviting and reduce their anxiety.

Jennie Farmer, chief marketing officer at Fora, said: “We know that workplace anxiety is a pressing issue in today’s professional landscape and these poll results serve as a reminder that our working environment needs to do more than offer a desk and chair, it needs to support our employees’ wellbeing.

“The research suggests that expectations of workspaces have changed; as workers have gotten used to a more inviting space while working at home during the pandemic, many have struggled to readjust when in a typical office environment, which lacks the enrichment needed to encourage innovation, creativity and interaction among employees.”