Over 20% of workers experience high levels of stress at work, according to an expert on human resources.
Addressing the Labour Relations Commission conference on the changing labour market, Professor David Guest of King's College London said that as people were forced to work harder, they found their stress levels rising.
He said stress was associated with lower job satisfaction and motivation, higher rates of absenteeism and sickness, as well as a higher likelihood that the employee would quit.
He warned that all of these could have serious consequences for business.
Professor Guest said many firms are in a war for talent, and that employees would not stay if they felt that they were not treated well or were under too much pressure at work.
He advised employers to reduce stress in the workplace by ensuring that staff had reasonable workloads, and were given support from colleagues and bosses.
