Survey reveals 42% of employees feel relieved when they decline extra work, yet burnout and mental health struggles persist—especially among younger workers and women.
GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A new report by Resume Now®, a leading career and resume service, reveals that while 65% of workers feel empowered to say no to additional tasks, the emotional and mental toll of extra responsibilities continues to affect many employees. The Price of Extra Work survey polled 1,160 professionals and the results highlight how declining extra work can bring relief and confidence, yet burnout and mental health challenges remain pervasive—especially for younger workers (25 and under) and women. Despite efforts to manage workloads, many employees are struggling to balance their professional responsibilities with personal well-being.
Key Findings
- 65% of workers feel empowered to decline extra work, with younger workers (25 and under) reporting the highest levels of empowerment (77%).
- Men are more comfortable setting boundaries (69%) than women (62%), while women are more likely to weigh the situation before saying "no."
- Younger workers report higher levels of frustration (38%) and difficulty managing workloads (38%) compared to older colleagues.
- 28% of workers have left their jobs due to stress or burnout.
"Despite feelings of relief and confidence when declining additional responsibilities, the prevalence of burnout underscores the ongoing struggle to manage workload expectations," said Keith Spencer, a career expert for Resume Now. "While many employees are taking proactive steps to address stress, including setting boundaries and seeking support, the impact of extra work on mental health and personal time remains a significant challenge."
Majority Feel Empowered to Say "No" to Extra Work
- 65% of workers feel empowered to decline extra work, with younger workers (25 and under) reporting the highest levels of empowerment (77%) compared to workers aged 26-40 (56%) and workers aged 41+ (66%).
- Gender differences exist: Men are more comfortable setting boundaries (69%) than women (62%), while women are more likely to weigh the situation before saying "no."
- Younger workers (25 or younger) report the highest levels of empowerment to say "no" (77%) compared to workers aged 26-40 (56%) and workers aged 41+ (66%).
- Workers aged 26-40 are the most likely to feel they cannot say "no" without negative consequences (12%), compared to just 3% of workers 25 or younger and 4% of those aged 41+.
Burnout and Mental Health Challenges Are Widespread
- 59% of workers frequently experience burnout due to difficulty saying "no" to extra work.
- Accepting extra work often interferes with personal or family time, with 52% reporting occasional interference and 12% experiencing it constantly.
Emotional Responses to Declining Extra Work
- Declining extra responsibilities commonly provokes relief (42%) and confidence in prioritizing tasks (31%).
- Younger workers (25 and under) feel the most relief (45%) but also the most guilt (26%).
Gender and Age Play a Role in Stress and Mental Health
- Women are more likely than men to report frustration (43% vs. 36%) and difficulty concentrating (41% vs. 35%) due to extra work.
- Younger workers (25 and under) report higher levels of frustration (38%) and difficulty managing workloads (38%) compared to older colleagues.
Proactive Strategies to Combat Burnout
- 28% of workers have left a job due to stress or burnout.
- Common strategies include adjusting workloads or setting boundaries (34%) and seeking support from managers or colleagues (32%).
Workload Management Still a Struggle
- 42% of workers experience difficulty managing workload expectations.
- Burnout remains a persistent challenge despite proactive efforts to set boundaries and seek support.
"The report's finding of continued widespread burnout and workers' mental health challenges highlight the ongoing struggle to balance workload expectations with personal well-being," Spencer said. "Despite efforts to set boundaries and seek support, the impact of extra work on mental health and personal time remains a significant concern."
To view the full report with more information, please visit https://www.resume-now.com/job-resources/careers/price-of-extra-work-report or contact Joseph Santaella at [email protected].
Methodology:
The findings provided were gathered through a survey conducted with 1,160 American workers on December 3, 2024. Participants were asked to share their feelings on how saying "no" to additional responsibilities impacts their personal lives and mental health by responding to various question types, including yes/no questions, open-ended questions, scale-based questions gauging agreement levels, and questions that permitted the selection of multiple options from a list of answers.
About Resume Now
Since 2005, Resume Now has offered job seekers a fast and easy way to create a beautifully designed, expert-backed resume. With pre-written, industry-specific phrases and recruiter-approved templates, the award-winning builder enables users to create a polished and professional resume in minutes. Stay connected with Resume Now's latest updates on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Media Contact
Joseph Santaella, Resume Now, 787-236-9388, [email protected], https://www.resume-now.com/
SOURCE Resume Now
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