Almost half of employees are more stressed at work than they were a year ago ⁰

Nearly half (46 percent) of employees questioned in a new survey feel more stressed at work than they did a year ago and 17 percent feel their work stress levels are ‘much higher,’ new research has claimed. The data, from Specialists4Protection.co.uk also suggests that 16 percent of people in work claim to have taken medical advice to help them cope with work-related stress, and 13 percent are on medication partly because of this. Just 12 percent say they feel less stressed than they were 12 months ago. The impact of this is not just felt at work. Fifty five percent of those suffering from work related stress say it has adversely affected their sleep, and 19 percent claim it’s contributed towards a decline in their relationship with their partner. Four out of ten (40 percent) say work-related stress means they are not eating properly and 42 percent are doing less exercise.

In terms of why people are feeling more stressed at work, the main reason is they have been asked to do more under their current role  – the response from 57 percent of those who feel more stressed. This is followed by 26 percent who said it’s because the organisation they work for is under greater financial strain; 26 percent who said their line manager is not functioning properly and one in four (25 percent) who said they are just generally working longer hours.

Paul Litster, Managing Director, Specialists4Protection.co.uk said: “Our findings are very concerning.  It’s not only the individuals who are suffering here but also their employers and the wider nation as a whole as the pressure on our NHS and health services increases.

“In the first nine months of 2016, 45 percent of those people who feel more stressed at work than they did a year ago have taken at least two extra days off work sick because of this.

“Employee stress and sickness is already at crisis levels and as the problem gets worse, it’s a ticking time-bomb.”