Hector Georgiou
If your working day feels like a race against the clock, with too much to do, too little time, and the occasional headache thrown in for good measure, you are far from alone.
Cyprus has one of the highest levels of work-related stress and anxiety in the European Union, according to figures from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, known as EU-OSHA.
The agency found that 41% of workers in Cyprus experienced stress, depression, or anxiety that was caused or made worse by their jobs. That places Cyprus third in the EU, behind only Finland and Greece, and well above the European average of 29%.
In plain numbers, roughly four out of every 10 people going to work in Cyprus say their job is affecting their mental health.
The problem is not simply the occasional difficult day or an overflowing inbox. Half of all workers surveyed in Cyprus said they face serious time pressure or an excessive workload, compared with 44% across the EU.
That could mean longer hours, tight deadlines, staff shortages, or simply being expected to squeeze more work into the same eight-hour day. Whatever the reason, the pressure appears to be taking both a mental and physical toll.
During the previous 12 months, 43% of workers in Cyprus said they experienced headaches or eye pain caused or aggravated by their work.
The pressure is not going away
The latest figures show that workplace stress has remained stubbornly high rather than appearing as a temporary post-pandemic problem.
In the corresponding 2022 survey, 40% of workers in Cyprus said their jobs had caused or worsened stress, depression, or anxiety. The figure has since edged up to 41%.
Across the EU, the rate rose from 27% in 2022 to 29% in the latest survey.
The comparison suggests that Cyprus already had a serious workplace stress problem three years ago, and very little has changed since.
More work, but not always more recognition
Heavy workloads are only part of the picture.
Nearly one-third of workers in Cyprus, or 31%, said the effort they put into their jobs is not properly rewarded. This can include dissatisfaction with pay, limited career prospects, or simply feeling that good work goes unnoticed.
Interestingly, Cyprus performed slightly better than the EU average on this point, with 34% of workers across the bloc saying their efforts are not sufficiently rewarded.
Poor workplace communication is another source of pressure. More than one in four workers in Cyprus, or 26%, reported problems communicating or cooperating with colleagues.
Another 22% said they do not have enough control over how they perform their work, a familiar frustration for employees who carry responsibility but have little say in decisions.
Abuse and bullying remain part of the workplace
The findings also reveal a more troubling side of working life in Cyprus.
Some 16% of workers said they had experienced violence or verbal abuse at work. A further 9% reported harassment or bullying.
That means workplace pressure is not always about deadlines or a demanding boss. For a significant number of employees, it also involves aggressive, intimidating, or humiliating behavior.
EU-OSHA conducted the survey between March 31 and April 14, 2025, with more than 25,000 participants across the European Union.
