The latest figures on workplace stress in the UK suggest that almost half of workers believe that their jobs have affected their health.
One in four of those questioned by vocational awards body City & Guilds also said they would be willing to take a pay cut if it would mean less stress.
A survey of 1,054 people in both vocational and professional jobs suggests that more than one in seven (13 per cent) have taken time off sick because of work-related stress with half (55 per cent) reporting sleepless nights, one in five reporting depression and one in ten a loss of libido.
Of these, two-thirds blamed their heavy workload and more than one in ten (12 per cent) said they were under pressure because they had not been given the appropriate training.
One in seven workers (15 per cent) said that they had been given no training that was directly related to their role, and one in six said they had made a wrong decision because of lack of training which had cost their firm financially.
The media topped the list of professions willing to take a pay cut (35 per cent) followed by IT specialists and chartered engineers (both 32 per cent).
For reasons we cannot fathom, butchers topped the list of those in vocational jobs willing to take a pay cut (38 per cent), followed by builders, secretaries and care assistants.
Chris Humphries, Director General of City & Guilds, said: "It's vital that companies invest in training to ensure that their employees are fully prepared for the additional responsibilities they face.
"Employers now demand greater flexibility from their workforce and staff are required to possess a diverse range of skills. This places huge pressure on staff," he added.
