Analysis of Google search data by YuLife shows that searches for “work bullying” have increased 114% month-on-month, with more than 12,000 searches in the UK during October-November 2025.
The increase suggests a heightened level of concern among employees about workplace conduct and culture, and may indicate that staff are seeking guidance outside formal organisational channels.
Context and supporting data
Recent national research supports the rise in concern around workplace behaviour.
- The 2025 University College London Labour Relations Study found that 14% of UK employees experienced some form of workplace abuse during the past year.
- The 2025 CIPD Bullying and Conflict at Work report found that while 81% of HR professionals believe their organisation has effective procedures to manage bullying and harassment, only 36% of employees who raised concerns said their issue was fully resolved.
These findings suggest a continued gap between policy and perception, where employers have systems in place, but employees may not have confidence in how those systems operate.
Search data as an indicator of workforce sentiment
YuLife’s analysis forms part of its ongoing monitoring of workforce wellbeing signals using public data. Search behaviour can provide early insight into workforce sentiment trends before they appear in formal reporting mechanisms such as absence rates, turnover, or engagement surveys.
Monitoring aggregated, anonymised search data can help organisations identify changes in employee interest or anxiety around specific topics, including bullying, burnout, or work-related stress. Such indicators, when viewed alongside internal HR data, can support earlier, evidence-based intervention.
Embedding prevention in organisational design
YuLife advocates a prevention-by-design model, integrating wellbeing and psychological safety into the structure of work rather than treating it as a standalone programme.
This includes:
- Establishing measurable wellbeing and safety KPIs;
- Providing training for managers on early-stage identification of risk factors;
- Using aggregated sentiment and behaviour data to supplement formal reporting.
Sammy Rubin, CEO and Founder of YuLife said, “Increases in search interest are not proof of prevalence, but they are valuable indicators of perception and confidence “Organisations that combine this type of public data with their own internal metrics can identify risks earlier and act on evidence, not assumption.”
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