72% of working dads physically and emotionally worn out

Talking Talent has published some rather astonishing results this week showing that half of all professionals feel worn-out by their work. On the face of it, that doesn’t seem a particular surprise, but when we look deeper at the results across the survey of 1287 UK professionals there’s something more telling for working dads.

Just think about that figure for a second. 72% of ALL working dads are close to burnout.

Burnout is near

The threat of burnout is real and immediate, and not focussed on middle age or later life. Last year in the UK, younger workers took more days off work due to stress than older workers (roughly 65% of 16-24 young workers compared to only 24% of older workers). 

At a time where Millenial dads are at greater risk of the fatherhood penalty, these results are just the latest to show how badly change is needed.

Some of the other findings from the survey:

• More than half (57%) of all professionals feel worn out by work;
• This number rises to over two-thirds (67%) for working parents; and 72% of working dads;
• And rises further to 70% of senior managers who feel the same way;
• 58% of senior managers report that they often lose focus at work;
• More than half (57%) of graduates feel worn out by work;
• Two-thirds of graduates (66%) feel they give a lot but get little in return;
• And three-quarters (75%) of professionals aged 25-34 already feel worn out by work.

Starting an honest conversation

While there’s lots of discussion about flexible working being a solution, that policy doesn’t help if work is actually becoming more ‘always-on’ for working dads.

According to the same report, nearly 50% of all workers do NOT feel they get enough support from employers. There have to be more opportunities for employers to make it easier for their employees to manage their own wellbeing better.

Some important questions here to start the conversation:

1. How can employers give their people confidence that it is not a sign of weakness to start talking about burnout?
2. How can we make employers take on these difficult questions?

The research shows that almost a half (49%) of workers often lose focus at work so there’s a pretty compelling reason already.

And it supports research by the Institute for Public Policy Research which recently estimated that 460,000 people transition from work to sickness and disability benefits a year, costing employers £9bn a year.

We need a change in the workplace for working parents, and especially dads. And it needs to start soon before we create a burnout workforce.