48% of businesses financially impacted due to summer workforce disruption – Zellis
More than two in five (41%) reported increased workloads, stress, burnout or sickness absence among staff.
Nearly one in four UK businesses lost revenue or faced extra staffing costs because of workforce disruption during summer 2026, research from Zellis found.
Almost half (48%) said the summer was more challenging than usual, while 20% described it as the most difficult since the pandemic.
More than two in five (41%) reported increased workloads, stress, burnout or sickness absence among staff.
More than a third (38%) said managers or senior leaders had to cover junior, frontline or operational roles, while 16% experienced payroll, scheduling or other workforce administration errors.
The research found 79% of organisations were making, or considering, changes to how work was planned and delivered following the disruption.
The disruption came amid increased annual leave, the World Cup and what was described as the UK’s hottest summer on record.
Abigail Vaughan, chief executive of Zellis, said: “What stands out from these findings is that summer 2026 workforce pressures didn’t just create a difficult few weeks for organisations.
“For some, they translated into lost revenue, higher staffing costs and increased pressure on both employees and managers.
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