Millions of UK workers are likely to be suffering from depression and panic attacks because they are so stressed out by their jobs, a survey has found.

The internet-based 24-7 poll found that two thirds of respondents had been made ill by work, with 48% of these suffering from depression, and 43% suffering from anxiety or panic attacks.

Among the other findings were:
• Eight in 10 people have a problem juggling the competing demands of work and home.
• Eight in 10 workers feel that at times they cannot cope with the demands placed upon them.
• Many people work over their contracted hours (one in 10 does a minimum of 49 hours a week, while only one in 100 is contracted to do so).
• Stressed workers were nine times more likely to make a mistake at work.

On a positive note, the survey of 3,300 wokers found that more than half of respondents ensure work does not dominate their lives, feel more fulfilled when busy and enjoyed the challenges of their jobs.

Despite the higher stress levels, women generally feel more positive about work than men. Almost three quarters of bosses are sympathetic to time off or changes to work schedules to help deal
with family or caring responsibilities.

Julie Hurst, director of the Work Life Balance Centre said: “Depression and anxiety have become a silent epidemic in the workplace and yet there is so much that can be done to reduce both problems. I would urge all employers to look carefully at these issues and arrange access to the appropriate forms of help, as it is in the long term interests of the business to support healthy, and ultimately productive, employees. At the most basic level having employees absent through these illnesses costs an organisation far more than it does to provide the proper support to help them get back on their feet and back to work. And that is without even considering the humanitarian case.”

The report is available to download at www.24-7survey.co.uk.