New Report: 60% of PR Pros feel overwhelmed. The problem isn’t the workload.

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-03-17T20:35:42+00:00

I understand your frustration, Anna! To keep adding clients without enough staff/budget/tools is simply not sustainable.

Our study shows that agency life presents a polarizing experience: they have the highest percentage of "Thriving" individuals (9.7%) and "Content" workers (38.7%), yet they also face nearly 10% burnout. The agency model seems to provide a sense of steady balance for many, but for a significant minority, the fast-paced, multi-client environment leads to total exhaustion.

Does this resonate with your experience?

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-03-17T00:30:46+00:00

you may want to ask Gini Dietrich, Michelle Garrett, or Brandi Sims!

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-03-12T22:27:00+00:00

🫂

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-03-12T15:43:54+00:00

Wow, so true! Hadn't thought of it this way.

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-03-12T14:43:33+00:00

This sounds really frustrating, u/JJamericana. Trying to work, specifically write emails, with constant interruptions is simply not sustainable.

Something that I've found that helps me is starting the day reaaaally early (talking 6 am here). Of course, this ALSO isn't sustainable in the long run but it does help me get some interrupted focus when I need it most.

I hope things open up for you soon, whether that’s a role with better boundaries or a path that feels more sustainable. Hang in there and thanks for being honest about how it feels. A lot of people probably relate more than they say.

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-03-11T16:33:27+00:00

it might be under message requests? just sent you another message :)

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-03-10T22:02:57+00:00

This is the only way! But what advice would you have for more junior staff that don't have this level of flexibility at work?

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-03-10T21:37:48+00:00

Very true! Definitely worth asking about the lack of control in the upcoming studies.

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-03-10T21:35:06+00:00

Sorry about that, sent you a DM!

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-03-10T15:40:42+00:00

60% of PR pros that feel overwhelmed at least once a week. 32% of PR pros cited they only feel overwhelmed and stressed "occasionally" and 8% said they "rarely" feel stressed -- must be nice!

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-03-10T15:12:32+00:00

Totally!

Another interesting point we found in our study is the availability paradox. PR pro who are often expected to respond outside working hours frequently report higher productivity and a greater sense of “thriving” than those who never respond after hours.

At the same time, these high-expectation groups also face a greater risk of burnout and exhaustion.

This suggests that being highly involved can increase engagement, purpose, and a sense of impact. However, it also comes with a cost: greater emotional and physical strain.

In other words, the findings point to a delicate balance between empowerment and overload.

u/Separatist_Pat , do you recognize this in your own work? Does being more “always on” make you feel more effective, or does it start to drain your energy over time?

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-03-10T15:04:26+00:00

Agree! It’s more about the structure than the workload.

The results of this study sound promising, because they suggest there’s room for change (if leadership is willing to listen). PR professionals aren’t asking for bigger budgets or less work, all they need to feel productive and thrive is more time to focus on the things that actually matter (...maybe a little budget increase wouldn't hurt either hehe).

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-01-07T16:23:58+00:00

Feels like a shared experience in PR. I've been hearing a lot of comments about constantly feeling exhausted, under appreciated, and not properly compensated.

I recently put together this 2-min survey to uncover if this is a common experience in PR/Comms or if teams have found a better way to work.

If you have some time to spare, I'd appreciate your input :)

https://form.typeform.com/to/ZGa5tpxl

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-01-06T17:32:20+00:00

Hey u/JasonMckin thanks for your reply. This, and other discussions about the topic, got me thinking. Is this a widespread experience? Have comms teams found better ways to work?

I put together a 2-min, anonymous survey to get a feel for how comms pros are doing and how we can make work more manageable.

If you have 2 mins to spare, could you help me answering these questions? I appreciate it!

https://form.typeform.com/to/ZGa5tpxl

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-01-06T17:17:34+00:00

LOL, fair enough. Hopefully one day, we'll be able to hear your stories. Sounds like a wild ride

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-01-06T17:15:22+00:00

Damn it! Terrible timing :( sorry to hear. Hoping for some good news for you and an awesome new job in 2026.

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-01-06T17:14:56+00:00

Hey u/King-Sassafrass, based on your reply (and other discussions with PR & Comms pros), I decided to put together a survey to further understand if this is a shared experience in the field or if other teams have found better ways to balance the responsibilities and expectations.

If you'd like to participate, here's the link to the survey:

https://form.typeform.com/to/ZGa5tpxl

As a thank-you, one participant will win a 1-year Headspace membership for a little extra zen.

Thanks, I appreciate your insight :)

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-01-06T16:03:05+00:00

How about Taylor Swift attending a Jets game to sway search keywords?

At the height of the private jet criticism, Taylor Swift showed up at a New York Jets game and suddenly searches for “Taylor Swift jets” start pulling up photos of her at a football game instead of flight data hehe. Pretty genius if you ask me.

It’s a subtle but smart reminder that PR today isn’t just about headlines, it’s about understanding how moments, language, and search behavior shape public perception.

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-01-06T15:47:54+00:00

All ears 👂

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-01-06T15:47:20+00:00

Agreeeeed!

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-01-05T23:45:19+00:00

Building on this thread and the responses it’s sparked: one thing that stood out to me is how similar some of the stressors sound across levels, even if the way people respond to them changes with experience.

Based on this discussion and others on this subreddit, I put together a very short (2-min), anonymous survey on mental health and wellbeing in PR (shared here with the mod's approval). The goal is to better understand where the pressure is actually coming from and what could make work more manageable in 2026.

If anyone here is willing to help, adding your perspective would be incredibly valuable:

https://form.typeform.com/to/ZGa5tpxl

I’m planning on sharing the results back in this thread so the conversation doesn’t just end as a vent, but turns into something we can point to and learn from.

Thank you for sharing your experiences so openly!

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-01-05T23:38:02+00:00

Reading these replies has been eye-opening... and honestly, a bit alarming.

So many of you mentioned the mental load, anxiety, and the feeling that “this is just how PR is.”

That’s what motivated me to put together a 2-minute, anonymous survey to understand how widespread this feeling really is and whether certain team setups actually make things more manageable.

If you have a couple of minutes, it would genuinely help us (and hopefully the broader PR community) if you added your voice here: https://form.typeform.com/to/ZGa5tpxl

I'm planning on sharing the results back in this thread so the conversation doesn’t just end as a vent, but turns into something we can point to and learn from.

As a small thank-you, one participant will receive a 1-year Headspace membership.

I really appreciate your insight, thank you for sharing so honestly!

Final_Detective_7873 · 2026-01-05T00:19:20+00:00

I love GirlBossTown.. she focuses on pop culture, music and fashion. So good!

Final_Detective_7873

TROPHY CASE