AS “Blue Monday” looms on January 19 – recognised as the most depressing day of the year – a new survey has revealed the alarming extent of burnout for a staggering 73% of small business owners.
In a pioneering test, the employer’s association PIMEM has measured the worldwide level of burnout syndrome across small and medium-sized organisations.
It identified construction, health and technology as the three most affected sectors.
Burnout isn’t just feeling tired after a long week.
It’s the slow drain that happens when work stress never really lets up.
It shows up as constant exhaustion, irritability, poor sleep, and a growing sense of distance from the job itself.
Tasks that once felt meaningful can start to feel pointless, while the pressure keeps piling on.
Heavy workloads, little control over how work gets done, nonstop demands, and poor communication all tend to fuel the fire.
The rise in burnout is surely a reflection of the escalation of challenges that businesses continue to face.
At What’s the Plan Stan (WTPS), our previous blog on the surge of UK insolvencies found that for companies in industries that run on tight profit margins—such as retail, hospitality, and construction—the pressures are particularly severe.
The relentless strain, combined with heavier workloads and the growing blur between work and personal life, has created an expectation and norm of near-constant availability.
Speaking about the findings, President of PIMEM, Jordi Mora, said:
“The company, jobs and, in many cases, family balance depend on them. That responsibility weighs heavily and has a direct impact on mental health.”
Mora stresses that the wellbeing of business leaders is essential to ensuring long-term continuity.
The mental health charity, Mind, reports that small and medium-sized businesses make up 99% of UK companies, yet research suggests they often lag behind larger organisations when it comes to supporting mental health.
The Federation of Small Businesses has published practical ways of how business owners can manage stress and mental health in the workplace.
Crucially, this includes how to spot the signs of someone struggling with poor mental health, which doesn’t always present in the most obvious ways. These include:
- Promoting open conversations
- Modelling healthy boundaries
- Encouraging flexible working
- Signposting support
- Providing training and resources
- Taking care of yourself too
FSB | Mental health in the workplace: Practical strategies for small business owners
If you need support for you or your team, please get in touch with WTPS today.
We have a team of seasoned professionals across a diverse range of sectors. We can lend a friendly ear and put you in touch with a support network.
The long-term success of a business depends on the wellbeing of those leading it.
