Marvin OnumonuOne in three Scots may leave their job due to work’s impact on mental health, according to the CIPD’s Working Lives Scotland 2025 report.
The research found 26% of Scottish workers, around 690,000 people, said work had a negative effect on their mental health.
Of those affected, 34% were likely to quit in the next year.
59% of Scottish workers said they were always or sometimes under excessive pressure at work, while 64% said they felt exhausted at work all or some of the time.
46% of those who said their workloads were too high found it hard to relax in their personal time because of work.
Over the past year, 48% of workers in Scotland experienced a physical health condition, while 44% experienced a mental health condition.
Those saying work impacted their mental health negatively reported much lower job satisfaction (34%) compared to those who said work had a positive effect (95%).
Marek Zemanik, senior public policy advisor for the UK nations at the CIPD, said: “Work should always be a force for good, so it’s deeply concerning to find that it is negatively affecting many people’s health and that a significant number are likely to quit their job as a result.
“This points to a real need to address the root causes, including poor line management, which can contribute to excessive workloads and people feeling under excessive pressure at work.
“Employers need to equip their managers with the right training, time, and resources to be able to identify issues early on, and support staff effectively.”
Zemanik added: “Without this, efforts by the Government to improve workforce wellbeing will be undermined. Good people management isn’t optional – it’s essential for a healthy, sustainable and productive workforce.”
The CIPD has called on employers to focus on giving line managers the support and training they need to help manage workloads and stress, and to offer flexibility to staff.
