Insight: Media industry is one of the least at risk of burnout – Perkbox
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UK Media industries are some of the least likely to experience workforce burnout, as a result of offering the most support to employees in combatting work stress, new research reveals.
For those British adults in employment, work is by far the most common cause of stress (59%) and media bosses are doing the most to help alleviate this, according to a study of 3,000 UK workers carried out by Perkbox, the employee benefits platform, as part of the 2018 UK Workplace Stress Report.
This is significantly higher than the UK average, which highlighted that on average less than half (45%) of UK businesses implement measures to help.
Along with family stress, work stress was the most common cause of stress for 63% of those working in the media industry.
The most common effects of work stress on media employees were lack of sleep (63%), difficulty in concentrating (59%) and anxiety (52%).
What’s more, 37% struggle to be as productive at work when stressed, and the same number find themselves disengaged with work as a result.
1 in 3 (33%) media workers will use exercise as a means of combatting stress, whilst more than a quarter (26%) will socialise with friends or loved ones and the same number will go shopping.
1 in 5 (19%) will also take some time to recharge and de-stress by taking a holiday.
Chieu Cao, CMO & Co-Founder at Perkbox, said: “It’s brilliant to see how effectively businesses in the media industry are working to reduce stress levels within their workforce and how seriously they are taking the issue. Especially considering the fast-paced nature of today’s world and in light of the fact that on average less than half of businesses offer support in this area.
Chieu continues: “Stress can have hugely damaging effects on morale, productivity, health and absence from work – all of which ultimately contribute to a company’s overall success – reaffirming the importance for bosses to recognise the contribution that work makes to employee stress levels.
“Those working in the media industry seem comfortable with managing stress through activities such as exercise and socialising – things which employers are obviously happy to encourage.
“Introducing measures that help to reduce stress or encourage positive coping methods need not be particularly involved or expensive – even free things as simple as introducing flexible working, considering requests to work from home from time to time, or enforcing 1-2-1s with managers, to allow employees to discuss concerns and motivations, can go a long way to help. But ultimately, measures which tackle staff stress head-on work best – including gym membership or exercise classes, discounted or complimentary counselling and mental health services and even spa vouchers.”
