New data reveals dangerous nonstop working across the UK. Psychotherapist warns that working from the bathroom is a red flag for boundary collapse.
Millions of Brits are in danger of burnout by working through their lunch break, with Gen Z workers most likely to do so.
Shockingly, two thirds (65%) of Brits admit to having worked a full 7–8-hour day without a break, while 6 in 10 (60%) even admitted to answering calls or emails from the bathroom. Experts are warning this makes them in danger of chronic stress and anxiety, eye strain and increased sickness. The study of 2,000 UK workers by HR software provider, Personio, revealed Millennials were the group most likely to work from the bathroom (64%) and work through an illness (58%).
Zoë Aston, Psychotherapist of 15 years and author on workplace behaviour, said: “People working from the bathroom is a red flag for boundary collapse. The bathroom is one of the few remaining personal spaces we expect to be off-limits. When employees are responding to work in that space, it signals a culture where people don’t feel psychologically safe to disconnect, even briefly. From a relational standpoint, this indicates a lack of mutual respect between employee needs and organisational expectations—whether real or perceived.”
Gen Z (18-24s) were revealed as the most likely to skip breaks in order to get home early, while women were more likely (60%) than men (50%) to work through their lunch break.
“This gender difference is crucial.” Zoë added, “Women are often conditioned to over-deliver in professional environments—taking fewer breaks, shouldering invisible labour, and deprioritising their own wellbeing to meet (or exceed) expectations. For HR leaders, this is a call to go beyond policy and examine if they are fostering equity in rest, recovery, and workload distribution.”
Law enforcement and security workers were found to be the biggest culprits, as over three-quarters (76%) admit to working a full day without a break.
Suzie Rogers, VP, People Business Partnering at Personio commented: “Prolonged screen time without rest can lead to eye strain, headaches and musculoskeletal issues, as well as anxiety, chronic stress, sickness and ultimately burnout, all of which come at a much steeper cost to both employees and organisations. Taking regular breaks isn’t just about boosting productivity, it’s about protecting long-term health and wellbeing. Whether that involves stepping away from your desk or switching off at lunch, even short pauses can make a big difference, and people should normalise this rest as part of the working day.”
The data also revealed a lack of knowledge on what breaks British workers are entitled to, with a third (31%) not knowing they are legally permitted to a 20-minute uninterrupted break if they work more than six hours.
For more workplace insights, please visit: https://www.personio.com/blog/break-guilt-fuelling-burnout-in-uk-workplaces/.
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