Why Are 41% Of Tech Workers Constantly Facing Monthly Burnout?

Manchester Tech Week has teamed up with Manchester Mind to look at mental health in tech and honestly, the numbers explain why this conversation keeps coming back. Research from Bupa found that 41% of tech professionals experience burnout at least once a month. We’re no longer just talking about the occasional bad week because it has become something that keeps returning.

The research is saying that 70% of tech leaders have dealt with mental health issues in the past year. That’s a problem shared at every level, from junior staff to senior management. It also affects how teams work, especially when deadlines build and workloads grow.

Companies are also losing time with data showing an average of 44 working days per employee are lost each year due to people working while unwell and burnout. Poor mental health is now costing UK companies £51 billion each year. Deloitte reports that workplace mental health support brings back £4.70 for every £1 spent through better productivity and fewer absences.

Charlotte Ulett from Manchester Mind connects these findings to real experiences. She said, “We know that pressure, stress and imposter syndrome can lead to employee burnout and mental health struggles. That’s why it’s so important for us to work with MTW and its core events to support businesses to create healthier workplaces and build mental health resilience in their workforce. We are looking forward to speaking with the tech community to find out how we can better support improved mental health in the tech sector”.

What Is It About Tech Work That Wears People Down?

The “Behind the Screens” campaign shares lived experiences from people working in tech, and those voices describe how the job can feel. John Wallworth, Information Security Officer at System C Healthcare, said, “In an industry that never sleeps, remember that your capacity to help others is entirely dependent on how well you’ve sustained yourself.”

That sense of constant work does not end when the day finishes. Benjamin Tucker, Cyber Security Operations Lead at Forge Holiday Group, said, “Passion for your work is a strength, but taking it home every night turns a strength into a strain.”

Senior roles bring added responsibility. Stuart Peet, Associate Director of Customer Service at BOC LTD, said, “Stepping into senior roles taught me that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed; what matters is giving yourself permission to breathe.” That reflects how expectations can build over time and affect how people cope.

There is also a close connection between personal wellbeing and job performance. Jackson Dyson, Head of Data Platform at the Information Commissioner’s Office, said, “Looking after yourself first is the most effective way to look after your job.”

How Are People Coping When It Hits?

The campaign also shares how workers deal with difficult days when burnout starts to build. Rebecca Fox, Founder and CTO at Relentica, said, “Some days knock you down. Then I think about the people I love – and that thought lifts me up again.” It is a reminder that support often comes from outside work.

Manchester Mind is bringing more practical solutions into Manchester Tech Week 2026, which’ll be from 27 April to 1 May during Stress Awareness Month. Sessions will look at ways to handle workload and stress, using tools such as mindfulness and meditation to help people feel more in control at work and at home.

Gloria Sandrucci, Event Director at Manchester Tech Week, addressed the culture around this. She said, “In the tech industry, we talk a lot about innovation and performance, but not always about the pressures that sit behind them. This is something I feel strongly about, and this partnership is about creating space for more open conversations, supporting our community, and making sure wellbeing is part of how we define success in tech.”

The piece reports what the data and speakers say. It brings together research and lived experiences to explain why burnout keeps returning for many people working in tech.