Stress costs your company far too much
T.L.C. Stress Management can help you to overcome these problems

A total of 95% of people employed in the public sector say their work life is stressful, a survey claims.

The poll, by SWNS on behalf of online learning provider, SkillSoft, reveals that when asked to rank stress levels on a scale of one to 10 - with 10 the highest - 64.2% of public sector employees rate themselves at five or higher.

Even more worryingly, more than a quarter of public sector employees have taken time off work due to stress, though 9.2% admit that they have used stress as an excuse for a "sickie."

When asked what would help to alleviate stress at work 59.1% said more money is the answer. Other popular answers include: reduced workload (26.3%); greater recognition (26.3%); better working environment (26.1%); improved work/life balance (24.7%); more flexible working hours (21.9%); more supportive bosses (21.1%) and better training (13.6).

More than half of public sector workers (52.2%) can never imagine a stage in their lives when they are completely stress-free, while 67.7% of those polled admit to waking up in the night due to feelings of stress.

Kay Baldwin-Evans, of Research at SkillSoft, said: "Stress is now the biggest cause of working days lost through injury or ill-health with an estimated 12.8m lost days each year, costing the economy up to £7billion each year."

Publication date 21/06/06 Evening Times