Human Performance & Wellbeing as Business Imperatives

Burnout and anxiety are serious, and increasing, challenges for the UK workforce. In 2026, Mental Health UK’s Burnout Report found that 91% of UK adults experienced high or extreme work-related stress in the past year, a rate that has held steady for 3 consecutive years. Research from Deloitte also found that 63% of UK employees show at least one burnout characteristic.

Why This Matters

With the rise of hybrid working, it’s easier than ever to feel isolated, lonely, and have low levels of trust in the team or organisation around you. The power of driving positive connection within teams is turning out to be one of the biggest levers in UK workplace wellbeing right now. Cultivating genuine human connection does not just alleviate isolation; it fundamentally enhances employee retention, fuels collaboration, and unlocks organisational potential.

The Evidence

Mental health has now become the number one cause of long-term sickness absence in the UK, and the annual cost to UK employers is estimated at £51 billion. Our youngest workers are the most disproportionately affected, with the highest rates being reported among 18–24-year-olds, the people who are only just embarking on their journey in the world of work and who are the long-term future of our workforces. It’s also true that social connection matters to 78% of workers.

Our Perspective

Leaders who will be able to combat these genuine business risks in the future will be the ones who create environments where people experience psychological safety, purpose, autonomy and sustainable performance through nurturing positive connection building across their teams. The antidote to most burnout is not about yoga, resilience apps or beers on a Friday at the office. Organisations who will lead will ensure that high-performance discussions with their people leaders include targeting them on driving the right energy in their teams and prioritising teamwork and the approach to work and not just work outputs in the traditional sense. Positive connection is the most critical antidote UK workforces have to burnout, and it doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by design.

Our Approach

With 31+ years of creating amazing experiences to drive positive connection in UK workforces, we can help you to address these challenges in your organisation. Talk to us today about what we can design together to support your people.

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