UK workers worn down by workplace stress

UK workers' social and family lives are being severely dented by work fatigue, with many feeling too exhausted to do basic activities after work, according to new research.

More than half of the 500 office and industrial workers polled by the Pertemps recruitment agency claimed to be too tired to go for a drink with friends after work, while two in five said they were unable to go the gym or take exercise because they were so shattered.

The most common reasons identified for this fatigue were stress (49 per cent) and long working hours (34 per cent).

Janet McGlaughlin, a director at Pertemps, said stress was something that needed to be managed by staff and management.

“Workers can play a part by ensuring they take short, regular breaks and don't put unnecessary pressure on themselves by taking on more work than they can handle,” she said.

“Bosses, meanwhile, should make sure they identify and make an effort to help stressed out workers."

Other findings:

- 20 per cent were regularly too tired to play with the children.

- 23 per cent claimed they were too exhausted to have sex with their partner

-  21 per cent said were too tired to watch television or read a book

- Nearly one in eight claim to have been too shattered even to prepare and eat an evening meal.

By Michael Millar