A new employee experience study has revealed that workload pressures remain widespread, with only 64% of workers saying they feel able to cope comfortably with their current workload.
The findings point to increasing strain between work demands, wellbeing and work-life balance, with a negative impact on engagement, performance and staff retention. This comes despite widespread AI adoption, raising questions over whether new technology is truly reducing pressure or simply allowing more work to be squeezed in.
The data comes from People Insight’s newly released Employee Experience Trends 2026 report, an annual publication that explores how employees are experiencing work and the trends shaping the year ahead.
The report draws on global benchmark data from millions of employee surveys, combined with wider workplace research and expert analysis from People Insight’s consultancy team. This provides a practical overview of the realities of working life today and what organisations need to address next.
The 2026 report highlights four key themes expected to dominate employee experience:
- Trust, transparency and fair decision-making
- Connection at work and the effects of loneliness on performance
- Workload, job design and the ongoing skills shift
- The increasing influence of AI on capacity and daily work experiences
Alongside workload concerns, several other warning signs emerge from the research.
Key findings include:
- Only 64% of employees say they can comfortably manage their workload
- Engagement remains at 79%, largely unchanged year on year, masking underlying pressure
- Open communication in the workplace has fallen from 60% to 53%
- Just 63% feel senior leaders provide a clear strategic direction
- Only 61% believe senior leaders genuinely listen
- 63% feel they have sufficient opportunities to learn and develop
Tom Debenham, Founder of People Insight, commented: “When people consistently feel overloaded, it affects everything, from wellbeing and engagement through to trust in leadership and long-term commitment. What this data shows is that organisations cannot afford to treat workload as a side issue. It sits right at the heart of the employee experience.”
The Employee Experience Trends 2026 report provides clear guidance on how organisations can respond, helping leaders move from insight to action.
The report is a must-read for HR teams, senior leaders and anyone responsible for workplace culture or engagement.
Download the report at peopleinsight.co.uk/trends-report-2026.
