Is stress a big issue at work?

Yes.

• Around 5 million workers suffer from high levels of stress at work, or 1 in 5 employees in the UK (HSE figures). Almost half a million of those believe it makes them ill.
• Employees suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety take an average of 31 days off sick a year, with an estimated 13.5 million lost work days in 2007/8. Estimates of the annual cost to employers range between £3.7 and £5 billion.
• Stress is consistently one of the main issues raised in TUC surveys of safety reps.

In 2003, the Health and Safety Commission issued guidance for employers setting ‘management standards’ to tackle stress at work.