Workload stress is emerging as a growing fault line in employee experience, with a significant share of workers struggling to keep up with what their roles demand. A new global report highlights that only about two-thirds of employees feel their workload is manageable, pointing to rising pressure across organisations despite continued investments in technology and automation.
The findings suggest that employee wellbeing and work-life balance are increasingly out of sync with performance expectations. While many organisations are rapidly adopting AI tools, the report indicates that technology is not always easing the burden of work. In several cases, it appears to be enabling more output without reducing underlying demands, leaving employees feeling stretched rather than supported.
Overall engagement levels remain relatively strong. However, the report notes that headline engagement scores are masking deeper issues. Open communication has declined notably over the past year, signalling that employees may feel less comfortable speaking up or sharing concerns. Trust in leadership is also showing signs of erosion, with fewer employees feeling that senior leaders offer clear direction or genuinely take employee feedback into account.
Opportunities for learning and growth are another area of concern. A sizeable portion of the workforce feels their roles do not provide enough scope for skill development or career progression. This raises questions about job design and long-term employability at a time when skills are evolving rapidly.
Looking ahead to 2026, the report outlines four forces shaping employee experience: trust and fairness in decision-making, social connection and loneliness at work, shifting skills and workload expectations, and the expanding role of AI in day-to-day work. It warns that sustained overload can undermine wellbeing, weaken trust, and affect retention.
The report also offers guidance for HR and business leaders, urging them to rethink workload management, redesign roles, and ensure that technology adoption genuinely improves how work feels for employees, rather than intensifying pressure.