A new study from Friends Life reveals that a third of the UK’s working population has called in sick due to stress, with over half of this group having been unable to work because of stress at some point during the last 12 months.
Almost half of respondents have felt more stressed since the onset of the financial crisis in 2008 and have become increasingly troubled about job security, as the UK economy struggles on.
The three main causes of stress were found to be money (36%), work (25%) and relationships (16%).
The research also reveals that two thirds of 18 to 24-year-olds and over half of 25 to 34-year-olds questioned have called in to work sick due to stress in the past year alone.
Friends’ director of group protection, David Williams, comments: “This is an extremely worrying number of young people who are starting their working life under strain and is something which needs to be monitored carefully.”
Across all age groups, those in Northern Ireland have suffered most from stress since the beginning of the financial troubles, with 70% of respondents feeling more stressed than four years ago.
In contrast, just 40% of those living in the East Midlands have felt a rise in their stress levels.
Category: Business Insurance News, Health Insurance News, Insurance News
