Stress is blamed for everything from poor productivity to absenteeism. But now a new poll has found that for most of us, domestic life is more stressful than anything we encounter in the office.
Britain's trade unions, in the form of the TUC, are clear that excessive workloads, job cuts and rapid change are the most common triggers for rising stress levels among employees.
The TUC's poll for today's International Stress Awareness Day [Weds], showed that six out of ten union safety reps found stress to be their most pressing concern at work, with stress seemingly more of an issue in larger workplaces.
However a poll for workplace consultancy Croner has suggested that as far as two-thirds of British workers are concerned, everyday domestic life is more stressful than anything they experience at work.
The poll asked 2,770 employees to rank "stress triggers" in both their work and personal lives.
Financial worries came top, followed by relationship problems and achieving work/life balance.
Workplace stressors did figure on the list – including excessive workloads, long hours, pay and commuting - but these were considered the most stressful by a combined minority of 25 per cent.
Nevertheless, when quizzed further, just 14 per cent said they did not get stressed at work.
A heavy workload was voted as the bigger stressor, followed by poor working relationships, working long hours and pay and benefits.
Croner's Gillian Dowling, said: "Although workplace factors feature lower down our stress trigger league, stress is still a big issue for employers who must treat it as they would any other workplace health hazard."