Yorkshire workers are ‘most stressed’ in UK

Jan 19 2010 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

WORKERS in Yorkshire are more stressed than anywhere else in the UK due to the ravages of the recession, according to new research from Yorkshire Bank.

Almost a quarter of workers questioned in the Yorkshire Bank survey said their workplace stress levels have rocketed since the economic downturn started.

Nearly two-thirds of Yorkshire workers – the highest figure in the country – said that the recession has made it far harder to balance their work and personal lives.

Andy Davison, managing partner of Yorkshire Bank’s West Yorkshire Financial Solutions Centre, which covers Kirklees, said: “This survey shows that this recession has had a very real impact on our professional lives – even for those who have kept their jobs.

“Many businesses have had to work extremely hard to ensure their survival and keep their workforce intact and – by prioritising their jobs over their private and family lives – West Yorkshire’s workers have shown great grit and determination.

“It is important for economic recovery that West Yorkshire workers are focused on helping their business to survive.

“However, it is essential that employers ensure they are offering their staff the necessary support to achieve a work-life balance that creates happy and productive employees.”

The Yorkshire figures are higher than the UK average where one in five workers believe the downturn has made them more stressed and 51% feel that the recession has made it harder to create an acceptable work-life balance.

The survey showed that almost a quarter of employees claim to be working up to 11 hours more a week than they did before the onset of the recession.