Returning to work on Monday or Tuesday after the festive break will increase stress levels felt by up to three out of four employees, a survey has found.
Just minority of employees – 27% – don’t find the return to work after Christmas and New Year celebrations at all stressful, according to the survey by MetLife Employee Benefits.
The survey found that 43% of respondents said the biggest cause of stress was simply readjusting after taking time off. However, for 31% the main worry will be catching up with work backlogs caused by having to take time off. And 25% will be battling financial pressures caused by Christmas spending.
Older workers are likely to find the return to work the least stressful – around two out of five employees aged 55-plus say they do not worry about going back to work. This falls to around one in five employees aged between 18 and 34.
Tom Gaynor, employee benefits director of MetLife UK, said: “Of course it is a bit of a shock to the system having to go back to routines after holidays but readjusting should not be a cause of stress and worry. However, it seems it is a concern for many people as they worry about catching up with backlogs at work.
“Workplace stress is a major issue for employers and employees and it has a real impact on business performance. There are, however, a range of practical steps companies can take which help address the issues before they become a major problem.”