06.11.2019

Stress Awareness Day: Women more likely to prioritise a higher salary, but experience more stress at work

Women are more likely than men to prioritise a higher salary[1], but experience significantly higher rates of work-related stress[2], according to new research.

The findings, revealed by Hitachi Personal Finance to coincide with National Stress Awareness Day on Wednesday 6th November, compare attitudes towards work/life balance with national work-related stress statistics.

Two in five (41%) female respondents admitted it is more important for them to have a higher salary than a good work/life balance, compared to just 34% of men who said the same, a 20% difference.

The research findings correlate with notable differences in the levels of work-related stress between women and men. Per 100,000 workers, the number of cases of self-reported work-related stress, depression or anxiety is 2,020 for women, considerably higher than the male rate of 1,490[2].

There is also age disparity in attitudes towards work/life balance. More than four out of five (82%) workers aged over 45 said they would always opt for a better work/life balance over a high salary, versus 49% of under 45s. Again, these findings correlate with the latest data on work-related stress, particularly among female workers, where the number of cases reported are at their highest among 35-44-year-olds but fall significantly in the 45+ age bracket.

When it comes to earnings, Hitachi Personal Finance’s research found the lower the salary, the more value is placed on maintaining a good work/life balance, suggesting that health and happiness take precedence over earnings for much of the UK workforce.

Up to £9,999 p/a (83% favour work/life balance compared to higher salary)
£10,000 - £19,999 p/a (76%)
£20,000 - £29,999 p/a (75%)
£30,000 - £39,999 p/a (70%)

Commenting on the findings, Vincent Reboul, Managing Director at Hitachi Personal Finance, said: “Although we should always be thinking about our mental health, Stress Awareness Day is a great opportunity to take some time to think about how stressors in and out of work can affect our wellbeing.

“Maintaining a healthy work/life balance can help reduce stress levels and prevent workplace burnout. Try to work smart by prioritising your workload and not getting stuck working on less productive tasks. Outside of work, make time for the things you enjoy, such as meeting friends and exercising.

“It’s interesting that over 45s tend to favour work/life balance over higher salaries, perhaps realising with age that personal relationships and life experiences can bring more happiness than money and material items.”

[1] Stats taken from a TLF poll of 2,001 UK adults in August 2019

[2] Health and Safety Executive, Work-related stress, anxiety or depression statistics in Great Britain, October 2019

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