Mental Health UK’s Burnout Report 2026 reveals that one in five UK workers (20%) took time off in the past year due to poor mental health caused by stress, rising sharply to 39% among young adults. Overall, 91% of adults reported experiencing high or extreme levels of pressure, reinforcing that workplace stress is no longer a marginal issue, but a systemic global challenge.
According to the report, workplace stress remains one of the leading causes of absenteeism and disengagement at work. This trend is mirrored internationally. A global study from Gallup found that worker stress remains at historic highs, with significant levels reported across both the UK and US, underlining the scale of the issue facing modern workplaces.
