Stress is now the most common cause of long-term sickness absence from the workplace, according to a new survey.
New figures reveal for the first time that stress now causes the majority of serious health problems for both manual and non-manual workers, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development have discovered.
They also found that companies planning redundancies are significantly more likely to see an increase in mental health problems among employees.
Expert Keith Gorman said: “Today’s news is shocking but unfortunately not surprising. We see the effects of stress on workplaces every day. Not only can it have a debilitating effect on people’s personal lives, but long-term absence of any kind can affect the productivity, and ultimately the bottom line, of a business.
“It is also a regrettable sign of the times that working under threat of redundancy takes a massive toll on the mental health and wellbeing of employees.
“No matter what the sector, people are finding the pressures of the workplace harder to cope with than ever. People do not need to suffer alone there is support out there, from organizations like ourselves, where practical, confidential advice can be accessed.
