Bristol workers on brink of burnout says survey

Office life has never been more stressful with nearly half of Bristol’s workforce (49%) saying they are closer to burning out than they were just five years ago.

The top triggers of workplace stress are lack of exercise, feeling understaffed and job instability, according to a recent report by global workspace provider Regus which canvassed the opinions of local business owners and senior managers.

However, with the pressure on to find ways of reducing stress, many workers believe one way of easing the tension is a break from the main office – at least some of the time.

Seven in ten Bristol workers (72%) found a change of scenery such as working from another location to be a good stress reliever.

In fact, having the freedom to occasionally work away from the main office is seen as a key factor in achieving a good work-life balance; three quarters of respondents (75%) believe workers that have this flexibility are happier.

The experiences of those lucky enough to be able to work flexibly further support this.

Two thirds (66%) say they are more content now that they work outside the main office some of the time.

Similarly, freelance workers also tend to be more relaxed according to the research.

Three fifths of those questioned (59%) say that they think freelance workers, with their freedom to change location and set their own hours, are less stressed than regular staff.

Richard Morris, UK CEO at Regus comments: “Stress levels are mounting in the workplace as a result of various factors; workers feel deskbound and under-resourced.

“Dedicated workspaces offer the flexibility to work in a variety of locations. This is the future of work, and brings a number of benefits including improved productivity and employee well-being.”