More than a third of UK workers say the fear of returning to the office has negatively affected their wellbeing, new research finds

August 2025 - Business Support

More than a third of UK workers say the fear of returning to the office has negatively affected their wellbeing, new research finds: In a survey answered by both employers and employees, more than a third (38%) of workers said that media stories about the recent return-to-office (RTO) push has negatively impacted their wellbeing. Meanwhile, the support for hybrid working amongst the workforce is still strong.

2025 is the first year of the Hays UK Working Well Report which is conducted to gather data around UK workers’ physical, mental, financial and social wellbeing. The report also explores the themes of employee attraction, engagement and performance. Hays led the survey of around 3600 professionals and employers entirely in-house, with research being carried out over a period of 18 days from 24 April to 12 May 2025.

Companies tightening their stance on office attendance has caused growing anxiety for a large number of the workforce, particularly for the younger professionals. 20 to 29 year olds are more likely to report negative wellbeing impacts from pressure to return to the office than those aged fifty or over. The report also showed a gender split, with two in five women (42%) stating RTO developments have had a damaging influence on their mental health, compared to only one third (32%) of men.

It seems many of the concerns arising may stem from the financial pressure associated with returning to the office, more specifically the commuting aspect. Nearly three in five (59%) workers reported that financial worries about things such as the cost of commuting discourage them from spending more time in the office.

More than a quarter (28%) of UK adults became hybrid workers by early 2024 and according to the report, support continues to stay strong as more people are becoming put off full time office working. More than four fifths (84%) of hybrid workers believe that dividing up their time between the office and home has had a positive impact on their general wellbeing. This topic also revealed another notable gender split, with 7% more women than men agreeing that hybrid working has had positive impacts on their wellbeing (87% compared to 80% of men).

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