As the UK enters another demanding festive period, experts are warning that end-of-year pressures are fuelling festive fatigue, a trend that is increasing safety risks across multiple industries.

Rising incidents linked to fatigue

EcoOnline data shows a 42% rise in workplace incidents during last year’s holiday season, driven by heavier workloads and longer working hours. These findings align with Health and Safety Executive trends showing fatigue as a major contributor to accidents, particularly in shift-based roles where irregular rest patterns heighten the likelihood of errors.

Manufacturing and healthcare are among the sectors seeing the sharpest seasonal impact. Increased demand in these industries has led to more slips, trips and serious injuries, costing organisations productivity and compensation payouts.

NHS workforce insights indicate that Christmas is one of the most hazardous times for overstretched staff. A survey found that 46% of NHS employees felt personal and work pressures during the festive period harmed their mental health, intensifying fatigue and increasing error rates in departments such as emergency medicine.

The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch warns that staff tiredness poses a significant patient safety threat because fatigued workers are more susceptible to medication mistakes and procedural lapses.

Industry impact and safety risks

Brenig Moore, technical director and HSE expert at Astutis, says: “The end of the year is traditionally hectic, but today that pressure has escalated. Businesses are contending with tighter deadlines, reduced staffing as colleagues take leave, year-end financial targets, seasonal demand spikes and increased shift work. The result is a sharp rise in employee exhaustion. Fatigue builds quickly when demand spikes and teams are stretched thin. Employers must recognise that festive fatigue isn’t just about feeling tired, it’s directly linked to safety risks, reduced concentration and potentially serious accidents. Addressing this now will protect staff well-being and strengthen overall safety performance.”

Astutis highlights several industries facing disproportionate risk:

• Retail and hospitality: High footfall and longer trading hours increase slips and collisions as fatigue reduces alertness.
• Healthcare: Night shifts and patient surges worsen sleep deprivation and raise the risk of needlestick injuries or misdiagnoses.
• Logistics and transportation: Driver shortages result in extended journeys, with fatigue contributing to one in five transport accidents according to HSE.
• Facilities and customer service: Maintenance teams rush repairs during holiday events in low-light or poor weather conditions.
• Manufacturing with year-end fulfilment: Faster assembly lines elevate machinery risks when concentration drops.

Astutis’s decade-long analysis of HSE statistics shows fatalities in the health and education sectors have risen 67% since 2015, while retail has seen inconsistent declines. Across the UK, 124 work-related fatalities were recorded in 2024–2025, a stable figure that conceals seasonal spikes in non-fatal incidents.

Growth of presenteeism

Presenteeism is worsening these risks. EcoOnline reports that 38% of workers cite fatigue from overload as a top concern, while 45% point to seasonal illness. A CIPD study finds presenteeism costs the UK economy £15.5 billion annually, with employees attending work while ill 36% of the time, often to avoid using holiday leave.

This culture of persistence increases the spread of illness and raises the odds of accidents as fatigued staff overlook safety procedures.

Employer actions to reduce festive fatigue

Moore outlines measures employers can take to reduce seasonal risks. He says: “Taking proactive steps to manage festive-season fatigue is key to preventing avoidable accidents and ensuring teams enter the new year safely. Employers should introduce a number of key steps into their everyday communications. This should include introducing a seasonal safety briefing, highlighting fatigue risks, safe-working reminders and procedures for escalation. Employers and managers should also rebalance workloads resisting the temptation to fill every gap. Rotas should allow for rest periods and fair distribution of work. Encourage restorative time off, and make it culturally acceptable for employees to switch off fully during leave. If you’re working while you’re sick, your employees will feel as though they have to too. Monitor for fatigue indicators managers should be trained to spot early signs of exhaustion, stress or cognitive overload. All HR professionals and employers should strengthen mental health and well being support provide access to resources, EAPs or trained well being leads. This should be something ongoing, but particularly should be reinforced over the festive season.”

These recommendations reflect HSE guidance, which encourages risk assessments for shift workers and the use of fatigue indices to identify high-risk periods. Industry benchmarks show that measures such as mandatory breaks and wellness check-ins can reduce incident rates by up to 20%.

Astutis has released a detailed review of workplace fatality and safety trends over the past decade, including sector-specific risks and seasonal variations.

Outlook for 2025

As 2025 approaches, experts emphasise that festive fatigue is not only a well-being issue but a critical safety concern. With appropriate planning and fatigue management, employers can protect their workforce and maintain performance through the busiest period of the year.

Research shows festive fatigue linked to a 42% rise in holiday incidents poses a growing threat to UK worker safety.