Stressed out workers weighed down by work and finances

Work is the second most stressful aspect of life, second only to financial worries, according to a report.

Half of the 2,000 employees (51%) surveyed by the Samaritans charity and health insurer Medicash cited money as the biggest cause of stress, followed closely by work (about 38%).

About seven in 10 respondents said stress made them irritable and 56% said it disturbed their sleep patterns.

A third of the respondents said alcohol helped to make them feel less anxious.

Paul Lauris, sales and marketing director at Medicash said: "We are encouraging businesses to tackle work-related causes of stress and provide a health plan, with stress counselling and alternative therapies such as reflexology and acupuncture, to help their employees deal with the problem sensibly."