Employees could be put under more strain as firms make extra cutbacks, it has been said, which could encourage companies to seek absence management advice.
The Work Foundation's associate director of policy Stephen Overell stated that the threatened cuts in the public sector has caused a number of people to have concerns about their job security.
He suggested that as employees are worried, they are finding their "work more intense".
"People are experiencing that their work is a bit of a strain and that their hours are going up," Mr Overell said.
His comments follow findings from a survey by health and safety body the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health earlier this week, which stated that one in three employees have suffered a relationship breakdown as a result of workplace stress.
Mr Overell went on to say businesses are also "under great pressure" at the moment as the economic recovery remains uncertain.
Posted by Cameron Thomson