The Covid pandemic has unquestionably had a big impact on the stress felt by workers, with research from the American Psychological Association suggesting that this is playing a crucial role in the increase in people looking to pastures new.

The survey suggests that the pandemic has contributed to a lack of opportunities for career progression, which coupled with the stress of the period has meant around 40% of workers plan to change jobs in the year ahead.

Pandemic stress

The results reveal that nearly 60% of workers were suffering from work-related stress, with a growing number complaining about poor salaries and a lack of opportunities to progress.  These stresses is especially strongly felt among marginalized communities, with around 60% saying they want to look for new work in the year ahead.

“Stress at work can have broad negative consequences for employers and employees alike, including loss of productivity, high turnover, and repercussions for the employee’s physical and emotional health,” the researchers say. “A workplace that pays attention to worker well-being is better positioned to recruit and retain engaged and productive staff.”

Stress was a particular factor among front-line workers, for whom 67% reported negative impacts from stress at work.  These stresses are not irreversible, however, with nearly all employees saying that there are things their employer could do to mediate the impacts of stress, whether that was introducing flexible hours, encouraging people to use paid time off, or simply taking better care of their mental health.

“During the pandemic, many employers switched to remote work where possible, thus providing greater flexibility for their employees,” the researchers conclude. “Policies that promote flexible hours and breaks during the workday and provide other forms of support for employees to take care of themselves may also help employers retain staff in competitive markets.”