For workers aged over 45, ill-health is the number-one perceived career threat, overtaking economic worries and AI, according to research findings published by AXA Health yesterday (8 December).
For workers aged 45 to 54, ill-health was the main career concern (38.6%) followed closely by economic concerns (38.3%) and then artificial intelligence (23.7%), analysis of a poll of 2,000 UK employees revealed.
The same proved true for workers aged 55 and over: 38.6% of employed people aged 55 and over cited ill-health as their main career threat, compared with economic concerns (22.6%) and AI (16.2%).
Across all British workers, ill-health was perceived as the second biggest threat to their jobs (33%), overtaking worries about AI (26%) and ranking behind economic concerns (37%).
Younger employees have the same worries, AXA’s poll findings suggest; one in three workers aged 16 to 24 believe they may need to retire early due to health concerns.
Health anxiety poses a serious challenge for employers, said Angela Sherwood, chief people officer at Simplyhealth, a provider of health cash plans. She noted that stress leads to workplace absences, which subsequently impacts productivity.
To better support employees’ mental health, employers must remove barriers to access for support, Sherwood advised. “This could include removing the stigma of mental ill-health and creating an open-door environment that encourages judgement-free communication,” to help foster trust and make it easier for employees to have comfortable conversations about their mental wellbeing.
To manage health anxiety in the workplace, workers need motivation, engagement, and psychologically safe environments, said Heather Smith, CEO of healthcare company AXA Health.
“Addressing health anxiety needs more than just a blanket benefit structure – it’s about creating the right workplace environment and culture and, of course, choosing the right benefits to support the needs of their workforce.
“Ultimately, we need a shift from reactive healthcare to preventative wellbeing that’s genuinely embedded in business strategy.”
Smith advised HR teams to support preventative wellbeing by offering accessible mental health resources, such as employee assistance programmes that have mental health support services included. Employers can also offer flexible work arrangements, and encourage leaders to have regular check-ins with staff.
Sherwood agreed that check-ins are key to addressing health anxiety among employees: “Sometimes creating a specific moment to talk about mental health, whether through virtual coffee chats or workplace socials, can be the catalyst to encourage employees to open up. Whatever the format, by offering regular check-ins, employees will recognise that they have a safe and accessible point of contact to turn to now or in the future.”
Where HR professionals are not be equipped to offer the level of support an employee may need, staff should be encouraged to speak to a mental health professional, Sherwood added.
Raising concerns about the impact of health anxiety on younger workers in particular, Smith advised HR teams to “train managers to recognise signs of burnout and aim to create an environment where younger employees feel they can discuss mental health without fear of career consequences”.
Citing separate research findings from a joint report published by Simplyhealth and the CIPD in September, the Health and Wellbeing at Work report, Sherwood warned that employers are increasingly having to deal with employees’ stress symptoms at work.
She added: “Our research found that 39% of employers say that investing in employee health and wellbeing in their organisation is an opportunity to reduce sickness absence. Employers should provide a workplace benefits package that includes easy access to mental health services like online counselling and 24/7 helpline.
“By offering mental and physical wellbeing support, employers can consistently support their people’s wellbeing by helping address concerns early, avoid absences and ultimately boost long-term productivity.”
Healthcare company AXA Health commissioned Censuswide to poll 2,000 UK employees in November 2025.
