Workers reveal how they’re trying to avoid work stress as they’re overwhelmed with anxiety
MILLIONS of British workers want a job they literally can’t take home with them – as the alternative is causing them too much stress.
A study of 2,000 office workers found seven in 10 find their job stressful.
And more than one in ten (12 per cent) take that work stress home with them and spend upwards of an hour at night fretting about their job.
As a result, more than half (56 per cent) are considering alternative careers that are less demanding.
Nearly three quarters (73 per cent) would love a job that could be left behind each day, ready to pick back up in the morning – with those aged 45-64 most likely to want this type of career.
The research was commissioned by British Gas to mark the launch of its recruitment drive to hire 3,500 apprentices over the next decade to train in green skills.
Lewis Solway, a regional operations manager at British Gas, said: “It’s worrying to see how many workers across the UK are finding their jobs too stressful, especially with the rise of technology and home working, which can make it even harder to truly switch off.
“Almost three quarters of the office workers we surveyed would prefer a role they can leave behind each day, which is one of the many benefits of taking up a trade like engineering.
“Along with developing new skills, practical careers give you the chance to make a tangible difference to people’s lives and to the world around you, which can be extremely rewarding.”
The study found a fifth of those surveyed find it difficult not to think about their job outside of working hours, with 48 per cent checking their email inbox when they shouldn’t be.
Nearly half (48 per cent) are guilty of sending emails during non-working hours, while the same number (47 per cent) have used their spare time to complete an unfinished piece of work.
Worryingly, 29 per cent are most likely to feel stressed as soon as they get home, with 26 per cent experiencing the same feeling just before they start work for the day.
A quarter have work on their mind immediately after they wake up, and 64 per cent have previously lost sleep over things related to their job.
Workload and deadlines (59 per cent) are the most common thing to worry about, followed by money (39 per cent) and office politics (35 per cent).
Given the option, 56 per cent would accept a reduction in their responsibility for a stress-free job, and 39 per cent would even consider taking on a more junior role.
But at the same time, 49 per cent of those polled, via OnePoll, appreciate the security their current job brings, and 45 per cent are grateful for the wage packet.
Lewis Solway, from British Gas, which has also committed to hire 500 former armed forces recruits to retrain as engineers, added: “As we work towards a greener future, home technology becomes smarter and energy efficiency is higher priority than ever before, demand for engineers continues to increase – which means engineering jobs offer security, too.
“I trained to become an engineer as an apprentice – and 10 years later I was teaching the next generation of smart energy apprentices at the very same academy I attended.
“Throughout my journey I’ve loved being able to leave at the end of the day knowing I’ve made a difference, and switching off properly before a new day starts.”