BRITISH workers face unprecedented levels of stress and rank it as the main safety concern across most industries, a new survey finds.

The TUC declared work-related stress a “crisis” as nearly 80 per cent of union representatives say it is their members’ biggest issue.

The report was backed by figures from the health regulator HSE, which says an equivalent of 22 million working days were lost due to stress in 2024/2024.

Data published in the TUC’s 15th biennial survey of 2,700 union safety representatives found that it has become the top concern in every region and almost every industry.

Sectors such as central (80 per cent) and local government (66 per cent), health (68 per cent), education (74 per cent) and volunteering (71 per cent) are among those who say stress ranks as the top issue.

High workloads came as a close second, with 60 per cent of union representatives saying the increase in expectations from employers is to blame for the rise in stress.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “These findings expose a growing national crisis. Stress is now entrenched as the biggest health and safety issue facing working people and the situation is getting worse.  

“No worker should find themselves lying awake at night from stress. But too many employers are ignoring the law, failing to assess stress risks, and piling impossible workloads onto staff. Workers are burning out, and they are paying with their health.  

“Employers and managers need to do more to identify and reduce risks and to provide support to employees struggling to cope.”

He said: “It is vital that we now implement the Employment Rights Act quickly and in full, so that we can improve employment standards and create happier, healthier and more productive workplaces.”

Assessments of stress at work, and policies to prevent it, are non-existent or not known to employees, according to most union representatives who responded to the survey.

Citing HSE data, the TUC said their assessment was backed up by the “unprecedented” rise in workers reporting work-related stress, depression or anxiety, which in 2024 hit 964,000, up from 776,000 in 2023.

The TUC called on the government and employers to enforce existing laws to assess levels of stress at work, reduce workloads, and ensure safe levels of staffing.