Summer is traditionally a time to rest and recharge. Yet for many employees, switching off is easier said than done. More than half of UK workers reportedly check their work emails as soon as they wake up,[1] a habit that reflects a culture of constant connectivity rather than genuine work-life balance.
Whilst nearly half the world’s large organisations report offering employee wellbeing packages, only 20-30% of employees ever use them.[2] Why the lack of take-up?
For one thing, nearly 18% of UK employees feel their mental health is no more than a tick-box exercise.[3] Workplace culture, particularly the perception that asking for support is a sign of weakness, certainly plays a role. But perhaps the greatest influence on employee wellbeing is the behaviour leaders model every day.
Real downtime requires real leaders
When CEOs post on ‘X’ at 3am and senior leaders send emails long before the working day begins, employees often interpret those behaviours as expectations rather than personal choices. They feel compelled to remain constantly connected and endlessly vigilant. Presenteeism replaces performance, and burnout becomes an ever-present risk, sometimes even being worn as a badge of commitment rather than recognised as a warning sign.
Of course, leaders don’t need to restrict themselves to conventional working hours. Many work across time zones or simply have different working patterns. The important thing is being explicit that these are personal choices, not expectations for others. When employees know they won’t be judged for responding during their own working hours, flexibility becomes a benefit rather than a source of pressure.
Leaders who demonstrate a real understanding of the need for holiday leave, weekends and lunchtimes out of the office can have more of an effect on the understanding and commitment to reducing workplace stress than any wellbeing programme.
Understanding the vicious circle of constant connectivity
Doomscrolling, incessant checking of work emails and ‘catching up’ on work tasks at home are all part of the same symptom: overwork culture. Whilst the UK works some of the longest hours in Europe, at 1668 per annum (although still far behind the USA at 1796), its productivity is not a bit higher than the Germany, which averages 1386.[4]
Poor sleep, scattered thinking and constant anxiety are linked to overwork across the population, whilst for the younger workforce (18-24) 39% have taken time of work through stress caused by financial fears, threat of redundancy and job security and a sense of isolation that being more focused on work will only cause to increase.[5]
How to create a healthier and more productive workplace
- Set clear expectations around availability by making it clear that employees are not expected to respond outside their working hours, regardless of when leaders choose to work.
- Lead by example. Take annual leave, step away for lunch, avoid celebrating long hours, and demonstrate that rest and recovery are valued, not viewed as a lack of commitment.
- Ask employees what they need. Use engagement surveys or regular conversations to understand what’s really affecting wellbeing, then focus investment where it will have the greatest impact.
Manage health, not work
Above all, manager wellbeing trickles down to the teams that are managed. Demonstrating how to take better rest from the workplace and creating clear expectations around when to respond to emails or other requests is the baseline for improved workplace wellbeing and better workplace performance.
Beyond this education about unhealthy digital habits is the beginning of creating healthier choices and stronger connectivity, more time for exercise and hobbies, better social lives and therefore healthier, happier, more invested workers.
Sources
[1] https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1964472/importance-disconnecting-always-on-world
[2] https://meditopia.com/en/forwork/articles/employee-wellness-program-statistics
[3] https://mentalhealth-uk.org/news-and-insights/burnout-report-2026-high-stress-pushing-workers-into-sick-leave-as-just-one-in-four-feel-mental-health-is-genuinely-prioritised-and-supported-in-the-workplace/
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_average_annual_labor_hours
[5] https://mentalhealth-uk.org/news-and-insights/burnout-report-2026-high-stress-pushing-workers-into-sick-leave-as-just-one-in-four-feel-mental-health-is-genuinely-prioritised-and-supported-in-the-workplace/
