More than half of British workers are making mistakes at work because of stress, while one in four have taken time off sick as a result, according to new research that highlights the growing toll of workplace pressure on productivity and wellbeing.

A survey by health and safety training provider Astutis found that 52.6 per cent of employees admit stress has led them to make errors at work, while 28.5 per cent say they have missed deadlines due to feeling overwhelmed. Almost a third (32.9 per cent) reported clashing with colleagues as a direct result of stress.

The findings come as new figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveal that 964,000 workers in Britain suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety over the past year, underlining the scale of the issue facing employers.

Astutis’ Workplace Silent Stress Survey 2025, which questioned 553 people across the UK, paints a concerning picture of how stress is quietly undermining performance and workplace relationships. Beyond lost productivity, the report suggests the financial cost to businesses runs into millions of pounds each year through absenteeism, mistakes and staff turnover.

Perhaps most striking is how few employees feel able to speak openly about stress at work. Just 4.7 per cent of respondents said they would raise concerns with their manager, while only 1.3 per cent would approach someone in a senior leadership role.

Steve Terry, managing director at Astutis, said the results point to a culture where many employees feel unable to speak up.

“These numbers portray a widespread workplace culture where people don’t feel safe raising stress-related concerns, preferring instead to suffer in silence,” he said.

While workers are talking about stress, they are doing so away from the workplace. More than half of respondents said they were more likely to confide in friends or family than anyone at work. Terry warned that while this offers emotional support, it does little to resolve the underlying causes.

“Friends and family can listen, but they have no power to change workloads, deadlines or processes,” he said. “It’s management who are in a position to address the root causes of stress.”

Astutis is now urging employers to take a closer look at their internal processes and company culture, and to create environments where staff feel able to have honest conversations with managers before stress escalates into burnout.

The benefits, the firm argues, flow both ways. Businesses can reduce the cost of lost hours, errors and employee churn, while workers feel more supported, valued and able to perform at their best.

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More than half of British workers making mistakes due to stress, research finds