More than 35 percent of Spanish companies report losing talent due to work pressure and heavy workloads, according to recruitment firm Hays.
The findings, published in the Labour Market Guide by Hays, show that nearly 70 percent of employed workers in Spain considered changing jobs during 2026 as workplace stress persists.
The report comes as millions of Spaniards return to work routines in September following summer holidays. That return often triggers post-vacation depression, a phenomenon that has expanded into a year-round condition known as Work Blues.
Challenges disconnecting from work
The study found that 41 percent of professionals struggle to disconnect from their jobs because of an established culture of urgency. A further 23 percent named receiving work messages outside office hours as a major obstacle to rest.
Fernando Calvo, the director of people and culture at Hays for Southern and Western Europe, said that Work Blues demonstrates how well-being is built through daily work routines rather than annual leave. He stated that the employee experience depends on leadership, workload, autonomy, and flexibility, adding that a few days of holiday cannot make up for cumulative fatigue when those factors fail.
Workplace recovery is further complicated by business transformation processes, blurring boundaries between professional and personal life, and the pressure to deliver rapid results. Employees face fragmented schedules, continuous meetings, constant priority changes, and near-constant availability with little adaptation time upon returning.
Preventive measures for workplace stress
Dr. Isabel Aranda, a doctor of psychology and occupational psychology expert, stated that problems occur when holidays fail to replenish psychological resources that were already depleted before taking time off.
Aranda explained that returning to work causes distress not because of the return itself, but because workers lose the autonomy, rest, and control over time experienced during vacation. She added that returning to environments with high demands, frequent interruptions, or scarce resources causes the mind to view the transition as requiring increased effort.
Hays experts suggested that organizations must address workforce stress through preventive strategies instead of relying solely on holiday breaks. They advised that businesses should foster approachable leadership, assign sustainable workloads, offer flexible working conditions, and guarantee real recovery spaces to reduce emotional exhaustion and strengthen employee commitment.
