A new report by Resume Now, a leading career and resume service, reveals that while 65% of workers feel empowered to say no to additional tasks, the emotional and mental toll of extra responsibilities continues to affect many employees. The Price of Extra Work survey polled 1,160 professionals and the results highlight how declining extra work can bring relief and confidence, yet burnout and mental health challenges remain pervasive—especially for younger workers and women. Despite efforts to manage workloads, many employees are struggling to balance their professional responsibilities with personal well-being.
Key findings from the report include the following.
- Over half (65%) of workers feel empowered by decline extra work, with younger workers reporting the highest levels of empowerment (77%).
- Men are more comfortable setting boundaries (69%) than women (62%), while women are more likely to weigh the situation before saying no.
- Younger workers report higher levels of frustration (38%) and difficulty managing workloads (38%) compared to older colleagues.
- Over a quarter (28%) of workers have left their jobs due to stress or burnout.
“Despite feelings of relief and confidence when declining additional responsibilities, the prevalence of burnout underscores the ongoing struggle to manage workload expectations,” says Keith Spencer, a career expert for Resume Now. “While many employees are taking proactive steps to address stress, including setting boundaries and seeking support, the impact of extra work on mental health and personal time remains a significant challenge.”
Over half (65%) of workers feel empowered to decline extra work, with younger workers reporting the highest levels of empowerment (77%) compared to workers aged 26 to 40 (56%) and workers aged 41 and older (66%).
Gender differences exist: Men are more comfortable setting boundaries (69%) than women (62%), while women are more likely to weigh the situation before saying “no.”
Workers aged 26 to 40 are the most likely to feel they cannot say “no” without negative consequences (12%), compared to just 3% of workers 25 or younger and 4% of those aged 41 and older.
Over half (59%) of workers frequently experience burnout due to difficulty saying “no” to extra work. Accepting extra work often interferes with personal or family time, with 52% reporting occasional interference and 12% experiencing it constantly. Declining extra responsibilities commonly provokes relief (42%) and confidence in prioritizing tasks (31%).
Younger workers feel the most relief (45%) but also the most guilt (26%). Women are more likely than men to report frustration (43% vs. 36%) and difficulty concentrating (41% vs. 35%) due to extra work.
Younger workers report higher levels of frustration (38%) and difficulty managing workloads (38%) compared to older colleagues. Over a quarter (28%) of workers have left a job due to stress or burnout. Common strategies include adjusting workloads or setting boundaries (34%) and seeking support from managers or colleagues (32%).
Nearly half (42%) of workers have trouble managing workload expectations. Burnout remains a persistent challenge despite proactive efforts to set boundaries and seek support.
“The report’s finding of continued widespread burnout and workers’ mental health challenges highlight the ongoing struggle to balance workload expectations with personal well-being,” Spencer says. “Despite efforts to set boundaries and seek support, the impact of extra work on mental health and personal time remains a significant concern.”
