Employee burn out levels show 'minimal' improvement, finances key stressor

Gen Z is more burnt out than millennials.

Three in five (61%) Singaporean workers feel burnt out, albeit a minimal improvement from the 62% in 2022, signalling a slow advancement in employee wellness programmes.

Additionally, 27% of employees said that financial stress and the rising cost of living were the biggest causes of stress. Similarly, more than half (58%) of employees think that their workplaces are not doing enough to support their living costs, according to the 2024 Wellness at Work Report by Employment Hero.

“Employers must take proactive steps to provide comprehensive mental health support and wellness initiatives to foster a healthier, more productive workforce,” said Ben Thompson, CEO and co-founder of Employment Hero.  

“Addressing these issues is not just about improving employee well-being, but also about ensuring sustainable business success in the long term,” he added. 

Employees also reported that they do not have access to essential wellness services, such as on-site health assessments, mobile health clinics, comprehensive benefits management, physical fitness and wellness programs, and mental health support initiatives.

Only 45% of employees stated that their employer provides access to confidential counselling.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of Singaporeans indicated that they felt stressed at work a few days a week in the last three months, with 36% feeling stressed a few days a month.

The group with the highest rates of burnout is Gen Z, with 68% reporting feeling burnt out at work in the past three months.

This was followed by 65% of Millennials, 54% of Gen X, and 36% of Baby Boomers.

Gen Zs are struggling the most with workplace stress, with 58% feeling stressed a few days a week, compared to 44% of Millennials, 29% of Gen X, and 20% of Baby Boomers.