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‘Always-on’ work culture leaves half of employees to consider quitting, study finds 

Half of workers now check work messages while on holiday, and 55% do so within minutes of waking up. 

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‘Always-on’ work culture is pushing UK employees to breaking point, according to research from HiBob. 

Half of workers now check work messages while on holiday, and 55% do so within minutes of waking up. 

50% said the pace of work has intensified in the past year, while 48% feel under constant pressure to deliver. 

47% reported that there is no longer a clear quiet period at work, and 42% are considering leaving their job due to pressure.

58% said their role is more demanding than two years ago and nearly half felt expected to always be available. 

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36% regularly work late, while 37% would accept lower pay for a less stressful job. 

27% said not replying to messages outside working hours would harm their career.

42% admitted to checking work messages in the middle of conversations, 41% in the bathroom and 29% while on a date. 

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47% said there is no longer a clear quiet period, and 51% now have less time to recover between busy periods. 

47% felt mentally exhausted at the end of most working days, 41% said work affects their ability to sleep, and 33% said their job is unsustainable long term.

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76% said pressure on their team has increased, and 72% feel pressure from senior leadership to maintain performance. 

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54% said they struggle to balance performance expectations with employee wellbeing. 

36% said they have taken on extra work to reduce pressure on their teams, while 87% feel responsible for protecting employees from excessive pressure. 

51% said they feel underprepared and out of their depth dealing with these challenges, and 68% said they would benefit from clearer guidance on managing high-performing teams.

Toby Hough, VP, people & culture, EMEA at HiBob, said: “We’re seeing a structural shift in how work happens – potentially the biggest since the pandemic. 

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“Many workers no longer feel there is a natural point where pressure eases or where they can properly switch off, while managers increasingly find themselves balancing rising performance expectations with protecting employee wellbeing. 

“Left unaddressed, this shift poses a significant long-term risk to businesses.”

Hough added: “Companies therefore need to recognise that people-first cultures are performance-first cultures. 

“Sustainable high performance cannot exist without the right support, recovery and trust within teams. 

“Businesses now need to equip managers with the training, guidance and tools needed to lead through this new era of constant pressure and help teams perform consistently over time.”

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