New research has found that just 64% of employees believe they can comfortably cope with their workload, highlighting ongoing pressure across UK workplaces.
The findings suggest growing strain between workload demands, wellbeing and work-life balance, with negative consequences for engagement, performance and retention. This is despite widespread adoption of AI tools, prompting questions over whether technology is easing pressure or simply increasing expectations.
The insight comes from People Insight’s latest Employee Experience Trends 2026 report, a much-anticipated annual publication exploring how work is experienced and what trends will shape the year ahead.
The report draws on global benchmark data from millions of employee surveys, alongside wider workplace research and analysis from People Insight’s consultancy team. This provides a practical view of modern working life and the challenges organisations must now address.
The 2026 report identifies four major trends influencing employee experience:
- Trust, transparency and fair decision-making
- Workplace connection and loneliness
- Workload, role design and shifting skills
- The growing impact of AI on capacity and daily work
Alongside workload pressures, the report highlights several additional red flags.
Key findings include:
- Only 64% of employees say they can comfortably cope with their workload
- Engagement remains at 79%, unchanged year on year, masking rising pressure
- Open communication at work has fallen from 60% to 53%
- Only 63% feel senior leaders provide a clear direction
- Just 61% believe leaders genuinely listen
- 63% say they have opportunities to learn and develop
Tom Debenham, Founder of People Insight, said: “When people consistently feel overloaded, it affects everything, from wellbeing and engagement through to trust in leadership and long-term commitment. What this data shows is that organisations cannot afford to treat workload as a side issue. It sits right at the heart of the employee experience.”
The Employee Experience Trends 2026 report offers practical advice to help organisations tackle these challenges with confidence.
The report is recommended reading for HR teams, leaders and anyone responsible for engagement or workplace culture.
Download the report at peopleinsight.co.uk/trends-report-2026.
