Stressed UK workers using alcohol to cope
By Liz Lockhart
As a result of the economic downturn workers in the UK are more stressed, working longer hours and taking 
fewer holidays. These are the findings of a survey conducted by Nuffield Health. Even more worrying is the finding that stressed workers are commonly using alcohol as a coping mechanism.
The survey of 1,500 employees found that:
- 52% said they feel more stressed since the beginning of the downturn
- 41% feel more pressure at work
- 23% are working longer hours
- 23% feel stressed about work (even when out of the workplace)
- 14% have to work at weekends
- 12% take less holiday entitlement
The survey also reveals a rise in the number of people working unpaid overtime, with 45% of the survey participants doing more since the start of the economic downturn. More than 25% reported that the balance between their work and their life was so poor that it was having a negative impact on their partner.
But it is the way in which people cope with these stresses and pressures that should be ringing alarm bells. The findings show that 25% of stressed employees use alcohol to cope compared to 23% who rely on exercise to beat their stress, both in the gym and outdoors.
