Nearly eight in 10 workers report emotional exhaustion, few seek help

Workers stay in jobs despite high burnout and low leave rates.

Nearly eight out of 10 employees in Hong Kong reported feeling emotionally exhausted, overly tired, or significantly demotivated at work in the past month.

AIA Hong Kong’s recent Workplace Wellbeing Survey revealed that workplace happiness averaged 65 out of 100 amongst workers with lower scores amongst junior employees.

Only about one in five employees took sick leave in the past year due to mental or emotional health issues, with around 70% of them saying stigma discouraged them from seeking help. 

Around 30% of respondents said they sought mental health support or information online, whilst about 35% said cost concerns led them to delay or avoid counselling or therapy. Nearly half said they were unsure how to access professional support.

Nearly 70% of respondents said psychotherapy or consultations should be included in employee medical coverage or benefits.

The survey also found that nearly 80% of employees continued to handle work messages outside working hours, whilst over half said they had considered leaving their job due to team culture.

Amongst Gen Z respondents aged 18 to 24, 20% said they had already quit for this reason.

The survey was conducted between 5 and 11 February 2026, through YouGov, which covered 804 adults aged 18 and above in Hong Kong.

AIA Hong Kong launched MindAid, a digital counselling platform for eligible group insurance members, which offers text-based mental wellness support, mood tracking tools, self-assessment questionnaires, and access to mental health resources.