Bosses must be given stress training

Employers should start training managers to recognise symptoms of excessive stress, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has argued.

The organisation is encouraging employers to take the subject of stress more seriously due to increasing stress levels in the workplace.

According to the CIPD's research, one in five people now experience a high level of stress in the workplace. Almost half revealed that they were under "excessive" pressure on a weekly basis.

The body revealed that 44% admitted to being under pressure once or twice a week, which sets British business back a total of £9.6bn due to sickness absence.

To avoid liability for negligence, the organisation has recommended that employers must take action to eliminate or reduce the risk of psychiatric illness as soon as there are clear indications an employee is not coping with their workload.

In addition, managers should review employees' workloads, listen if they express concerns and take action to provide support where it is clear a workload has become excessive and the employee is unable to cope.

In addition, another survey conducted by the Work Life Balance Centre has revealed 80% of people claim to have difficulty juggling the competing demands of work and home life.

Among those surveyed who reported illness from stress, the most common disorders were depression, at 48%, while anxiety/panic attacks accounted for 43%.

More than 30% said they resented the long hours they had to work, while 25% said their family or relationships had suffered as a result.

Julie Hurst, director of the Work Life Balance Centre, said: "The levels of depression and anxiety have been increasing. Depression and anxiety have become a silent epidemic in the workplace."

Denise Skinner, professor of human resource management at Coventry University, commented: "Without doubt, the report demonstrates that stressed and ill employees can cost companies a great deal in terms of sickness absence and errors made."

She added that, despite the positive role that work played in many people's lives, this was often overshadowed by harm that can easily be reduced.