Employers should stop using superficial "wellbeing" benefits as a substitute for addressing the real causes of workplace stress, occupational health experts warn.
A newly published report by the Institute for Safety and Health at Work (IOSH), which analysed the experiences of workers in 22 countries, including the UK, shows that one common trend is that the pressure on the workforce is increasing like never before. According to the report, businesses continue to rely on reactive measures such as lifestyle benefits, one-off incentives or token campaigns, while fundamental issues such as work organisation, workload, schedules, institutional culture and psychosocial risks remain largely unaddressed.
IOSH compares this approach to “covering cracks with paper”, stressing that these measures do not actually protect workers’ mental health from preventable harm.
Ruth Wilkinson, policy director at IOSH, says many organisations still rely on superficial measures, while the real causes of harm remain untouched. According to her, prevention needs to be part of the systems, culture and leadership of every organisation, requiring clear commitment from managers, open communication and environments where employees feel psychologically safe to raise concerns. Only in this way, she stresses, can truly healthy, safe and sustainable workplaces be built.
The report finds that stress, anxiety and depression are the most common mental health challenges for employees. It highlights a global increase in well-being issues at work and a wide gap between good intentions and real impact. Although employers are investing more in this area, the results are not having the desired effect, as the underlying causes are not being addressed.
Prolonged stress at work has serious long-term consequences. It can trigger the release of hormones that significantly increase the risk of heart attack, weight gain, and obesity-related diseases. The most common physical symptoms include chest pain, headaches, and muscle aches. These are related to an increase in the hormone cortisol, which affects blood pressure, metabolism, sleep, and other vital functions, as well as the release of adrenaline as part of the “fight or flight” response.
For employers too, stress comes at a high cost. According to data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in 2024/25 around 964,000 workers in the UK experienced work-related stress, depression or anxiety, significantly contributing to the loss of over 40 million working days.
Debate has also been fueled by recent policies that aim to limit sick leave for mental health issues, directing individuals to gyms or employment centers. Health professionals warn that this approach risks minimizing the real effects of burnout, which is recognized by the World Health Organization as a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion.
Union representatives have backed the IOSH findings, stressing that early intervention could prevent hundreds of thousands of workers from leaving the job market for avoidable health reasons. They warn that when working conditions deteriorate and workloads increase, mindfulness courses or token campaigns will not solve the problem.
Experts agree that addressing the root causes of stress at work is in everyone's interest and requires bolder policies, including legal interventions, to guarantee stronger protection for the mental health of employees. /GazetaExpress/
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