As reported by Business Matters, a recent survey by health and safety training provider Astutis has found that over half of employees admit that stress has caused them to make mistakes at work

The findings come as new data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that 964,000 workers in Britain experienced work-related stress, depression, or anxiety in the past year.

Beyond the human impact, the survey highlights significant financial implications for businesses. Stress-related absenteeism, mistakes, and staff turnover are estimated to cost companies millions of pounds annually, underlining the importance of proactive workplace wellbeing strategies.

The research also revealed that while employees are increasingly willing to talk about stress, they are often doing so outside of the workplace. More than half of respondents said they were more likely to confide in friends or family than in managers or colleagues.

Astutis is urging employers to take a closer look at internal processes and company culture, and to create environments where staff feel comfortable having honest conversations with managers before stress escalates into burnout. The training provider emphasises that addressing workplace stress not only supports employee wellbeing but also helps protect productivity and reduces financial risk for organisations.