According to research by the Stress Psychology Institute, one in four Poles experiences high or very high stress at work, and three out of four employees encounter stressful situations at least once a week. The highest levels of frequent stress affect women and workers over 55 years old. These groups are most vulnerable to feeling overwhelmed by work responsibilities, which impacts their physical and mental health and carries significant economic consequences in a social context. In the European Union, stress causes up to 10,000 deaths annually.
“We surveyed nearly 40,000 people. Over 75% experience stress at least once a week. There is also a group of 25% who report that the stress is high or very high, making it very difficult for them to function both at work and in private life. Stress at work greatly affects both mental and physical health,” said Sebastian Zboiński, Vice President of the Stress Psychology Institute, in an interview with Newseria.
Stress is defined as a natural physiological and psychological response to demanding or threatening situations that exceed our adaptive resources. It can be triggered by real threats or subjectively perceived difficulties, such as time pressure, conflicts, or uncertainty. The body reacts with physiological changes preparing for a “fight or flight” response: hormones like adrenaline and cortisol are released, heart rate speeds up, blood pressure rises, and the airways dilate. Oxygen and glucose supply to muscles increase to provide quick energy. Not all stress is negative: eustress is positive stress that motivates us, improving concentration, motivation, and performance, such as before an exam or public speaking. Distress, however, is negative stress that is too intense, occurring when coping resources are exceeded, potentially leading to chronic mental and physical tension and disorders like insomnia, anxiety, or depression.
“Stress itself isn’t bad—it motivates us, pushes us forward, and makes us want to develop and climb the career ladder. The hardest part is when we don’t act on this motivation—when we get stuck feeling that something is too difficult or that we might fail, and then we stress ourselves internally without letting motivation move us forward,” explained Agnieszka Czubak, President of the Stress Psychology Institute.
The ADP Research report “People at Work 2025” found that one in three Poles sees work-related stress as motivating, while 13% describe it as overwhelming. The study categorized workers into well-functioning, ambivalent, and overwhelmed groups based on eustress and distress frequency. Well-functioning individuals treat work pressure as motivation, while those experiencing daily stress more often feel overloaded. Women reported the highest frequent stress levels (12% vs. 7% of men), and the most affected age group was those over 55 (12%). Younger workers aged 19–27 reported the least stress in Poland (5%), whereas in Japan, this was the most stressed group (23%).
The European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) recently published a report, “The costs of cardiovascular diseases and depression attributable to psychosocial work exposures in the European Union,” highlighting the economic impact of work-related stress. It states that depression caused by psychosocial workplace factors—such as excessive workloads, long hours, job insecurity, inadequate compensation, and bullying—costs European countries over €100 billion annually. Stress-related cardiovascular diseases, especially ischemic heart disease and stroke, generate costs of about €14 billion, the highest in Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe. In 2015 alone, 10,000 people died in the EU from work stress-related cardiovascular diseases.
In Poland, mental health-related work absences have been increasing. Data from the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) shows that in 2024, 1.6 million medical certificates were issued due to mental or behavioral disorders, including depression, accounting for 7.2% of all sick leaves.
Agnieszka Czubak recommends techniques and tools to minimize the damaging effects of chronic stress:
“When racing thoughts hit us and we feel a strong external stressor, we can focus on breathing—take deeper breaths—or check if our body is tense or relaxed. Physical activity like walking, running, or cycling is beneficial. Applying these regularly and consciously can greatly improve life quality, work atmosphere, relationships, and self-awareness,” advises the Institute president.
Sebastian Zboiński emphasizes that employers should pay more attention to mental health prevention among their teams, which boosts productivity and workplace safety, especially in risk-prone jobs.
“Most employees experience high stress, making it difficult to function and increasing mistakes. Imagine a professional driver under a lot of stress—consider the potential consequences,” he said. “Some employers provide ergonomic furniture for physical health, but few invest time, money, or space to address employees’ mental health. Yet this is key to having a healthy, efficient workforce that completes tasks quickly and effectively.”
Source: Stress Psychology Institute / Newseria / ADP Research / ETUI
