Released On 10 February 2026
Juggling Work And Childcare Tops The Stress List
A survey of WorkLife Central members has found that wellbeing levels remain as low as during the Covid-19 pandemic, with nearly half of respondents rating their mental and physical health as “average” or “poor.” The biggest driver of anxiety is the challenge of balancing work with childcare or eldercare, followed by concerns about children’s wellbeing and heavy workloads.
Despite this, work / life balance has improved significantly: 88% now describe it as very good or excellent, up from 51% in 2020. Respondents credited flexible working - over both hours and location - as the primary diver, citing reduced commuting, enhanced wellbeing and family time among the benefits.
Key findings from the survey include:
- 42% of respondents rate their mental and physical health as “average” or “poor,” the same result as in 2020
- The most significant contributor to stress and anxiety in 2025 was juggling work with childcare or eldercare
- 88% of respondents rate their work / life balance as "very good" or "excellent," up from 51% in 2020
- While most respondents feel adequately supported by employers overall, respondents feel less support around socio-economic background and neurodiversity
"It’s encouraging to see such an improvement in work-life balance, driven by the expansion of flexible working across sectors. At the same time, our data shows that people are still struggling to cope with the competing pressures of work and home and it is taking its toll on mental wellbeing. We hope these findings inspire organisations to keep building supportive, empathetic cultures where people feel comfortable sharing their needs and confident that meaningful support will follow."
Read the survey summary here.
WorkLife Central surveyed 185 members in September and October 2025.