The charity, Mental Health UK, recently released their Burnout Report 2025, which revealed that 9 in 10 adults had experienced high or extreme stress at some point in the last year.
The UK has seen a steady decline in individuals mental wellbeing in the workplace, In fact, Tiger Recruitment’s recent Salary and Benefits Review 2025 report shows that burnout is now the fourth most common reason why employees left their jobs in the past year, following salary dissatisfaction, lack of progression, and a desire to learn new skills.
The report also highlighted a generational trend, with 27% of Millennials citing burnout or unsustainable workloads as their key reason for quitting, the highest percentage of any age group.
David Morel, Founder and CEO of Tiger Recruitment, said: “Supporting employees’ mental health is vital. Missed signs of burnout can reduce productivity, increase sick days, and damage retention rates. We’ve seen recent research that shows burnout is now costing UK businesses £102 billion a year, making mental wellbeing a business-critical priority."
The five subtle signs to look out for if your employees are struggling with their mental health
1. They appear tired, anxious, or withdrawn
Some of the first signs to be aware of are if someone appears to be more tired or struggling with doing everyday tasks, such as attending and speaking in meetings or sending an email. Anxiety can affect people differently, but signs that someone could be finding work difficult are if you start to see a noticeable decline in their enthusiasm or they seem more withdrawn than usual.
2. Struggling to concentrate on their tasks
Losing fulfillment or interest in tasks at work that they once found interesting but now find hard to complete could be signs of burnout or an underlying mental health issue.
3. Increased sick days
The Office for National Statistics found through their research that 12 percent of the working days lost were due to mental health conditions such as stress, depression, and anxiety. The more days someone has to take off work, especially if it’s for long periods, could be a sign that they are struggling with their mental health.
4. Increased irritability or becomes tearful at work
We can all sometimes experience becoming stressed or anxious when a deadline is fast approaching, but sometimes if someone is struggling with their mental health, they may become more irritated whilst working or with other colleagues. Another sign could be if they find they’re crying a lot and usually when there’s no obvious triggers.
5. Avoiding social activities
Not everyone will be interested in the socialising aspects at work, and that’s alright. But it may alert employers if they start to see signs of an employee who once used to join in socialising with their team, no longer participating. Subtle changes in their behaviour like this could be indications that they are struggling and need their manager to reach out and offer support.
How can managers respond to employees who appear to show these signs?
David said: "A good manager approaches situations with empathy, not assumptions. If an employee appears to be struggling, it’s important to create a safe, private space to talk at a time that suits them. They shouldn’t feel pressured to share more than they’re comfortable with, just knowing support is available can make a real difference.
Before initiating the conversation, managers should be familiar with the resources on offer, such as employee assistance programmes (EAPs), mental health ambassadors, or external support networks. Above all, listening without judgment helps the employee feel heard and supported, and guides the manager in taking the most appropriate next steps."
