End of year WFH burnout – stressed out countries revealed in new study
Small Business Prices has carried out research to determine where employees across Europe are exposed to the most risk of burnout. The research explores metrics such as work-life balance, general happiness throughout the country, the number of hours worked per week, and the percentage of employees reporting risk factors affecting mental well-being at work.
With Covid-19 seeing many people move from the office to working from home, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance. With only 1% of British employees saying they have never experienced work-related stress; it has become more important than ever to talk about burnout and mental health in the workplace – even if it’s virtual!
Top 15 European Countries Experiencing Burnout
| Rank | Country | OECD Work-Life Balance (/10) | World Happiness Index (/10) | Weekly Working Hours | % Reporting Risk Factors Affecting Mental Well-Being at Work |
| 1 | Portugal | 7.0 | 5.7 | 39.5 | 38.6 |
| 2 | Greece | 7.1 | 5.3 | 38.8 | 30.9 |
| 3 | Latvia | 6.9 | 5.9 | 39.1 | 23.9 |
| 4 | Hungary | 8.0 | 5.8 | 39.6 | 20.3 |
| 5 | Slovak Republic | 7.9 | 6.2 | 39.1 | 26.8 |
| 6 | Poland | 6.8 | 6.2 | 39.8 | 18 |
| 7 | Slovenia | 7.4 | 6.1 | 39.0 | 32 |
| 8 | Estonia | 7.9 | 5.9 | 38.2 | 22.6 |
| 9 | France | 8.7 | 6.6 | 36.2 | 60.5 |
| 10 | Czech Republic | 7.6 | 6.9 | 40.0 | 19.6 |
| 11 | Lithuania | 8.6 | 6.1 | 38.7 | 17.4 |
| 12 | Iceland | 5.1 | 7.5 | 38.8 | 37.6 |
| 13 | Spain | 8.8 | 6.4 | 36.5 | 26.6 |
| 14 | United Kingdom | 6.4 | 7.1 | 36.6 | 23.1 |
| 15 | Austria | 6.8 | 7.2 | 35.6 | 40.8 |
Portugal, Greece, and Latvia rank as the top three European countries most at risk of burnout. A combination of unhappy citizens (5.7/10), one of the longest working weeks (39.5 hours), and an average work-life balance (7/10 for work versus play) put Portugal in the number one position. The UK on the other hand ranks 14th in the list with one of the shortest working weeks and highest happiness scores among the top 15 countries.
Employees in the Czech Republic have the longest working week at 40 hours, 11 more than those in the Netherlands who work an average of 29 hours. 60% of workers in France also report risk factors affecting their mental health at work, which is a shocking 20% higher than the second country in the top 15 – Austria (41%).
At the other end of the scale, Denmark, Germany, and Lithuania are the top three countries least at risk of employee burnout. Denmark scores 9/10 for work-life balance, the third-highest of all countries researched. It also has the lowest percentage of employees reporting mental health risks at work (17%).
Work-Life Balance Across Europe
Ensuring you have the right work-life balance is vital for your mental well-being. With many people working from home it can be difficult to switch between work and relaxing. These countries offer their employees the best work-life balance across Europe:
| Rank | Country | OECD Work-Life Balance | Weekly Working Hours |
| 1 | Netherlands | 9.5 | 29.3 |
| 2 | Italy | 9.4 | 35.72 |
| 3 | Denmark | 9.0 | 32.35 |
| 4 | Spain | 8.8 | 36.52 |
| 5 | France | 8.7 | 36.2 |
When looking at just the OECD work-life balance score (out of 10), the Netherlands ranks in first place at 9.5, which is understandable with one of the shortest working weeks in Europe at 29 hours. Naturally, if you’re working fewer hours, you have more opportunities to spend on personal care and leisure.
At the other end of the scale are Iceland, the UK, and Poland. Iceland scores just 5/10 for work-life balance, with an average working week of 39 hours. Employees do however benefit from one of the highest average salaries at $68,006. Do you think you’ve got the optimum work-life balance?
Ian Wright, founder of Small Business Prices comments: “Covid-19 has certainly changed the way businesses operate around the globe, but one thing that should not change is their dedication to their employees to ensure they have a positive work-life balance.
“Something as simple as flexible working practices can have a positive impact on your employees and is something that works both virtually and in a physical workplace – depending on your situation.”
For more information on the countries most at risk of burnout, view the full research here: https://smallbusinessprices.co.uk/european-employee-burnout/
