LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — YuLife, a leading well-being insurtech provider, recently released an interesting analysis of Google search data. It reflects a 114% month-on-month increase in UK searches for “work bullying,” with over 12,000 more searches during October–November 2025.
The data suggests a surge in concern among UK workers about workplace culture. It also captures the possible shifts in workforce environments and a trend indicating that employees prefer seeking information and help outside their formal reporting channels.
This is a signal that existing workplace policies may not be as trusted as they claim to be.
Search Data as Early Warning Signs
YuLife’s analytics is part of its ongoing monitoring of employee well-being using publicly available data. The company believes that certain behaviors, such as search habits, reflect workforce issues before they manifest in reporting changes, such as absenteeism and turnover.
Monitoring these helps organizations identify and address potential workforce concerns, such as bullying, work-related stress, and burnout, before they become damaging.
Increases in search interest are not proof of prevalence, but they are valuable indicators of perception and confidence. Organizations that combine this type of public data with their own internal metrics can identify risks earlier and act on evidence, not assumptions.
— Sammy Rubin, YuLife CEO and Founder
What This Means for the UK Workforce
YuLife’s report reflects UK workers’ anxiety about workplace behavior, with employees seeking anonymity and external advice. While many companies may believe they have adequate policies in place, this search behavior suggests their employees may lack confidence and feel unsafe raising related issues internally.
This data has been supported by recent national research.
- 2025 University College London Labour Relations: 14% of UK employees have experienced workplace abuse in the past year.
- 2025 CIPD Bullying and Conflict at Work: 81% of HR professionals believe their firms have effective policies managing these concerns, but only 36% of employees who have raised concerns claim their issues were resolved.
YuLife’s report is a wake-up call for employers to reevaluate their policies in managing workforce harassment. It also underscores the importance of proactive redesigning of work environments to reduce these behaviors before they escalate into more severe conflicts.
