LONDON, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- A survey by BUPA, a health insurance company, says about 500,000 people in Britain report experiencing enough work-related stress to make them ill.
The report says stress also results in an estimated loss of 13.5 million working days each year in Britain.
The report says work-related stress can not only reduce productivity but cause a wide range of physical, emotional and behavioral symptoms.
BUPA says many factors contribute to work-related stress and the effect varies among individuals. It says one common factor, though, is that work stress is the symptom of an organizational problem, rather than a sign that an individual is weak.
Some key aspects of work that can trigger stress include job demands (too much or too little to do), long working hours, poor organizational skills and difficult relationships with colleagues.
Employers can help by supporting their staff in finding ways to reduce stress, says the report.
