Public Servant Lifestyle

Yorkshire men and women are Britain's most stressed-out, longest working people.

More than half of us are suffering from stress at work, with long hours being cited as a major factor. Yorkshire workers are the most stressed, and record the longest 'on-the-job' time, while those in Scotland enjoy the nation's shortest working hours.

The International Stress Management Association UK (ISMAUK) and Royal & SunAlliance uncovered the findings, as part of a special study into stress at work.

Their research found that stress levels continue to rise in today's workforce, with one in two workers saying that they had experienced stress at work, during the last 12 months, and one in four needing time off work, as a result. Too much work is the most common cause of stress with almost three quarters citing this as the main reason. Other catalysts include deadline pressures (62%), an unsupportive work environment (40%) and problems with maintaining an acceptable work/life balance (also 40%).

Stress in the workplace affects people throughout their lives. The research showed that over half of stressed workers feel that it is damaging their health; reducing their job satisfaction (65%); and lowering their productivity (41%).

Stress

Other major areas of life which stress at work affects included deterioration in social life (49%) and problems with relationships - with their partner (38%) and their children (23%). One in five suffering from stress consult professional help. The situation is likely to get worse, with two out of three people expecting it to remain unchanged or even deteriorate.

The research additionally looked at the hours people are expected to work, with one in four employees working more than five days a week and almost a third of these working over 48 hours a week. Government guidelines clearly state that personnel should not work more than a 48 hour week.

Employers, however, continue to disregard the directive, with 54% of people who work more than five days a week doing so because it is required by their employer, and three out of five not being paid for the extra hours they work. Disturbingly, women are less likely to be paid then men, with 54% of men and 78% of women not being paid for overtime.

One in two people working over five days a week felt that these working conditions were damaging their health, 43% that it reduced their job satisfaction, 40% that it was damaging their relationship with their partner, and 37% that it was reducing their productivity.

Stress At Work

53% of people have experienced stress at work, during the last 12 months

57% of these say that stress has increased, over the last 12 months

52% of these feel that it is damaging their health

72% of these people get stressed, from too much work

41% of these people say it is reducing their productivity

20% of people experiencing problems, due to stress at work, have sought medical and additional professional help

63% of people experiencing problems, due to stress at work, expect the situation to remain unchanged, or get worse, in the coming year

Yorkshire is the most stressful place to work in the UK

Long Hours Culture

25% of the UK workforce are working more than five days a week

32% of these employees work in an environment where they are expected to work more than the recommended maximum 48-hour week

50% of these people say that it is damaging their health

37% of these people say it is reducing their productivity

54% of people, who work more than five days a week, do so because it is required by their employer

61% of people, who work more than the recommended maximum of 48 hours per week, are not paid for the extra hours they work

55% of people, who work more than 48 hours per week, do so every week

75% of these people expect the situation to remain unchanged, or even worsen, over the next year

54% of men, and 78% of women, are not paid for overtime

People living in Yorkshire and Humberside are most likely to work the longest hours. Employees living in Scotland work the shortest hours.

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