Britain’s workforce ‘stressed and physically unwell’

A report has warned that British workers are not getting enough breaks, leaving them “stressed and physically unwell”.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) said poor working practices are damaging staff health and costing the economy more than £35 billion a year.

According to the report, the huge costs are created for both employers and society through reduced performance and productivity and increased absence rates, sick pay and benefit payouts.

Ann Green, chair of the CSP said: “Work is good for us and can contribute to physical and mental wellbeing, but not when overworking means people don’t have the time or energy to look after their own health.”

Earlier this week, a Confederation of British Industry (CBI) study found that British workers took an average of 6.4 sick days in 2009.

The CBI said the figure was the lowest since its survey began in 1987, but the 180 million sick days still cost the UK economy an estimated £16.8 billion.