Work-related burnout has become widespread among retail workers in the UK, with a new survey from music licensing company PPL PRS revealing that every respondent reported experiencing burnout at some point in their career. The survey of more than 750 retail employees also found that nearly a third had felt burned out in the past six months, and just over one in five within the last year.
The main causes identified in the research were heavy workloads, which affected 53% of respondents, followed by long working hours at 45%, and unrealistic expectations cited by 36%.
The effects of burnout were evident both at work and at home. Half of the workers said they often felt frustrated, 47% said they were unproductive, and 41% felt undervalued. Beyond the workplace, 52% experienced anxiety, 51% struggled to relax, and 41% had difficulty sleeping.
Music emerged as the most common way to cope, with 38% of respondents choosing it to manage their symptoms. Other strategies included spending time with friends and family at 28%, and focusing on rest at 27%.
Donna Gutteridge, culture and service lead at Oliver Bonas, reflected on the challenges of the retail environment. She said, “Whilst retail can be a rewarding industry to work in, it can also be a challenging one. With long hours on your feet, dealing with customers and targets to hit, burnout can soon creep in. It’s important for retail workers to take a real break, not just five minutes to eat a quick sandwich, so you can recharge properly. If you’re always on the go, you’ll end up feeling stressed and overwhelmed. The fact that 38% of retail workers turn to music to cope with burnout is unsurprising. Hearing your favourite song playing in store is such a mood boost and, in general, creates a fun, relaxing atmosphere to work in. Ultimately, the key is catching burnout early and creating an environment where team members feel safe and supported enough to say ‘I’m struggling’.”
Marianne Rizkallah, a music therapist for PPL PRS, explained how music can contribute to mental wellbeing in the workplace. She said, “It’s no secret that music is the key to helping many of us unlock our productivity and feel more focused. It can also help us when we’re feeling unmotivated, stuck, or stressed. In the workplace, we don’t often consider the soundtrack we have and will usually be so focused on tasks that music blends into the background. Yet considering how music can leave us feeling positive, less stressed and happier, it’s no wonder that the music we hear at work should also be doing that too. A silent office can seem intimidating, making it harder for people to speak up or to ask for help. Yet equally working with a booming soundtrack can be distracting and hard for concentration, so it’s important to find a happy medium. This might involve letting employees take turns in what is played or agreeing on a calm playlist that makes the workplace a productive place to be.”
Leadership coach Debbie Green highlighted the responsibility of employers in tackling burnout. She said, “Staff that are burnt out, stressed out or anxious at work aren’t going to be producing their best, and this can have a huge impact on a business as well as the rest of the staff. As an employer, it’s important to lead by example and to set boundaries for your staff with a clear work and life balance. This is particularly useful for younger employees who might be keen to show their best side and not realise the impact of staying late or doing more than their hours. It’s also important to consider how important praise can be and ensure that good work is seen to be rewarded. Regularly acknowledging hard work, great results, or even just brilliant moments when a team has worked together and supported each other can make it clear that work is a positive place to be.