New report reveals the impact of emotional strain in the workforce
Tears are spilling over in workplaces as employees struggle under the weight of stress, according to new findings, which warned that emotional strain has become a defining feature of the modern employee experience.
Data from Resume Now shows that 39% of employees have cried at work, including 14% who have cried multiple times and 25% who have cried once or twice.
More than one in five (21%) employees also admitted that while they haven't cried at work, they have certainly come close to doing so.
"These findings show that emotional strain is no longer an isolated workplace issue, but a defining feature of the modern employee experience," the report read.
The report attributed the tears to emotional stress surfacing during the workday.
"Crying at work or feeling close to tears reflects pressure that has built up over time, often without a clear release valve," the report read. "These moments suggest that many workers are carrying emotional weight into their daily routines, making it harder to separate emotional overwhelm from workplace demands."
Source of emotional stress
Heavy workloads and long hours are some of the factors that drive emotional strain at work.
But the report noted that the ongoing uncertainty about job security can have heavy emotional consequences.
More than half (52%) of employees said they are worried about losing their job, even when there's no obvious reason.
Among them, 24% worry about it constantly and 28% said they worry occasionally.
"When employees are left guessing about their stability, that constant mental pressure can build over time, causing widespread worker burnout and making stress harder to contain and more likely to surface during the workday," the report read.
Venting as a coping mechanism
Meanwhile, another way for employees to cope with stress is venting, according to the report.
More than half (55%) of employees said they vent or complain about their job at least occasionally, whether to a friend, colleague, or on social media.
More than a third (34%) even said they vent frequently, ranging from every day or a few times a week.
While venting offers temporary relief, the report noted that this is still an informal way to deal with an issue, leaving the source of the problem unaddressed.
"Over time, this pattern can normalise frustration as part of the workday, shaping how employees relate to their jobs and to each other," the report read.
Impact on workplaces
This emotional turmoil at work is driving disengagement at work, even departures.
According to the findings, 41% of employees admitted to updating their CV during work hours, while 39% have performed other job-search activities such as interview prep or networking.
About half of employees (49%) also admitted to using their work time for personal tasks, such as shopping, appointments, or errands.
Four in 10 employees (40%) said they try to re-engage, but 46% admitted to already redirecting their energy elsewhere, such as doing non-work tasks, upskilling, or job search.
"Many shift their energy elsewhere or scale back their effort, suggesting that disengagement often shows up as quiet withdrawal rather than open frustration," the report read.
"Over time, this pattern can affect momentum, performance, and how connected employees feel to their work."
Addressing emotional strain at work
Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now, said the challenge for employers is that this emotional strain at work is often invisible.
"By the time disengagement becomes obvious, the emotional damage has already been done," Spencer said in a statement.
Ciphr, a provider of HR solutions in the United Kingdom, said there are various ways for employers to reduce stress at work.
This includes having the right tools in place and encouraging a healthy work-life balance among employees. It also recommended:
- Promoting physical wellbeing by encouraging physical activities to alleviate stress at work
- Prioritising mental health by providing access to mental health professionals and resources
- Assisting with financial literacy to ease financial worries among the workforce
- Establishing clear communication channels where employees feel heard, valued, and supported
- Fostering a positive workplace culture that encourages social interactions and open communication among colleagues
"The success of these solutions rest on having in place a capable, experienced HR team that has the capacity to promote stress-reduction activities, and help line managers mitigate employees' stress levels," Ciphr said on its website.
