Stress in the automotive industry: causes, signs and how to get help

What is stress?

Stress is what happens when the pressures of everyday life feel like more than you can cope with. It can build gradually - through long shifts, financial worries, or demands at home - or it can hit suddenly when something unexpected tips the balance. When stress takes hold, it affects how you think, feel and behave, and over time it can have a real impact on your physical and mental health. The good news is that stress is manageable, and you don't have to deal with it alone.

Stress is one of the most common challenges affecting people across the automotive industry. In BEN's 2025 annual survey, 57% of automotive workers identified stress as a significant issue in their lives — making it the number one wellbeing concern we hear about. Whether it is building up gradually or hitting you all at once, we are here to help. This page brings together everything BEN offers around stress and pressure, so you can find the right support for you.

Are pressure and stress the same?

You might hear people say they work in a 'high-pressure environment' or 'have a really stressful job' and sometimes, use both to describe the same situation. But are pressure and stress the same?

➡ Pressure describes the demands that are put on us, both in our home lives and at work.

This could be everything from making sure we get the kids to school on time to reaching deadlines or targets at work. The amount of pressure we are under can fluctuate and most of the time our pressure levels are fine.

We all need a certain amount of pressure to be effective at home and work. If we don't have enough pressure we can get bored or frustrated. Think of it like a tyre – it runs perfectly with the right pressure or runs flat without enough.

Read our 'Tips to deal with pressure' article.

➡ Stress happens when we have too much pressure.

This can be lots of different pressures all at once or an event which tips us over from pressure to stress, such as an unexpected bill, something happens to someone we care about or extra hours at work to meet a deadline. Think about it like a tyre or a balloon - add too much pressure and the stress can make it unstable or even burst.

Read our 'Tips to deal with stress' article.

Signs that pressure is turning into stress

Knowing what to look out for can make all the difference. Here are some common signs that pressure may be tipping into stress:

• Feeling constantly tired, even after a full night's sleep
• Headaches, muscle tension or an unsettled stomach that will not shift
• Snapping at colleagues on the workshop floor or during a busy handover
• Finding it hard to concentrate - losing your thread mid-conversation with a customer
• Feeling anxious, irritable or low for no obvious reason
• Withdrawing from the people around you, at work or at home
• Lying awake at night with your mind racing through the next day's job list
• Relying more on alcohol, cigarettes or caffeine to get through the day
• Putting things off and feeling overwhelmed by tasks you would normally handle easily
• Losing your sense of humour or not enjoying things that usually give you a lift

If any of these feel familiar, you are not on your own. Help is available, and reaching out is always the right call.

Why is stress so common in the automotive industry?

The automotive industry can be a rewarding place to work, but it also comes with real pressures. In BEN's 2025 annual health & wellbeing survey, stress was the top wellbeing issue for automotive workers, cited by 57% of respondents — ahead of poor sleep at 52% and anxiety at 44%.

It is not hard to see why. Long shifts, short-staffed teams, targets that do not seem to let up, and the ongoing squeeze of the cost of living all take their toll. Whether you are on the workshop floor, managing a dealership, working in logistics or anything else across the sector, the pressure can build in ways that are easy to dismiss until they become hard to ignore.

BEN exists specifically for people in the automotive industry — past and present. That means we understand the pressures that come with your working life in a way that a generic service simply cannot. And everything we offer is completely free. There is no catch, no referral needed, and no waitlist for most of our services.

What causes stress at work?

Work is one of the most common sources of stress - and in the automotive industry, the pressures can be particularly intense. Long hours, demanding targets, staff shortages, and fast-paced environments can all push people past their limits. Some of the most common causes of work-related stress include:

• Workload and time pressure: too much to do, not enough time, with little room to recover between busy periods
• Job insecurity: uncertainty about the future of your role, your employer, or the wider industry
• Lack of control: feeling like you have no say in how your work is managed or organised
• Poor relationships at work: conflict with colleagues or managers, or feeling unsupported by those around you
• Long or unpredictable shifts: irregular hours that disrupt sleep, routines and home life
• Financial pressure: wages that don't stretch far enough, especially with the rising cost of living

If any of these feel familiar, you are not alone. Stress at work is one of the most common reasons people contact BEN - and it is exactly the kind of pressure we are here to help with.

When should I get help for stress?

There is no threshold you have to reach before asking for support. If stress is affecting your sleep, your relationships, your work, or simply your enjoyment of everyday life, that is reason enough to reach out.

It is worth seeking help sooner rather than later if you notice any of the following:

• Stress has been building for several weeks with no sign of easing
• You are using alcohol, cigarettes or other substances to cope
• You are struggling to get through the working day or calling in sick regularly
• People close to you have noticed a change in your mood or behaviour
• You are feeling hopeless, overwhelmed, or like things will not improve

Reaching out early makes a real difference. The longer stress goes unaddressed, the harder it can become to manage - and the greater the risk of it developing into something more serious, like anxiety or burnout.

How BEN helps automotive workers with stress

Wherever you are with stress right now, BEN has support that can help.

You can call our free and confidential helpline on 08081 311 333 any time, or access support through our online chat if you would rather not talk on the phone. Our SilverCloud digital wellbeing programmes are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week — just use the access code ben to get started at no cost. If you would prefer to speak to someone one to one, we can connect you with a life coach or a trained counsellor.

Everything BEN offers is free and completely confidential. No judgement, no pressure — just practical support from people who understand your industry. Take a look at the pages below for self-help tips, guidance on managing stress day to day, and more