Employers should avoid making assumptions about which generations are most affected by workplace stress, following new research suggesting different age groups face distinct wellbeing challenges.
Research from GRiD, the industry body for the group risk sector, found that employers believe Millennials experience the highest levels of stress overall, particularly when financial pressures, caring responsibilities and home life are taken into account.
However, employees themselves paint a slightly different picture, with Gen Z workers reporting the highest levels of work-related, financial and personal stress.
According to the research, 43% of employers believe Millennials are most affected by financial stress and debt, while 42% cite home-life pressures such as caring responsibilities. Employers also identify work-related stress as affecting both Millennials (41%) and Gen Z (42%) at similarly high levels.
By contrast, employee responses suggest Gen Z experiences the greatest day-to-day pressure, with 28% reporting work-related stress, compared with 22% of Millennials. Gen Z employees also report higher levels of financial anxiety and personal stress than older generations.
In the games industry, where project deadlines, live-service operations and hybrid working continue to shape working patterns, the findings reinforce the need for inclusive wellbeing strategies that support employees throughout their careers rather than targeting support solely by age.
Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD, said employers should avoid projecting assumptions onto different generations.
“The evidence shows that employees across all generations experience stress, reinforcing the need for a broad and generation-agnostic approach to mental health support,” she said.
The research recommends combining preventative wellbeing initiatives with access to more structured mental health support where required. Suggested measures include employee assistance programmes, mental health resources, counselling services, clinical support and employer-sponsored protection benefits that incorporate wellbeing services.
For games studios competing for highly skilled talent, effective mental health support is increasingly viewed as both a wellbeing priority and a retention strategy. Providing accessible support across all career stages can help reduce burnout, improve resilience and maintain productivity, particularly as development teams become increasingly multi-generational and geographically dispersed.
With employee expectations around workplace wellbeing continuing to evolve, the findings would suggest organisations that invest in proactive, inclusive support are likely to be better positioned to attract, retain and develop talent across the games industry.
You can read more about Mental Health in the Workplace on Empower Up’s dedicated resource here.
