'Less than one in ten have stress policy'

Mental health charity Mind said in a new report that employers must "act now" to address "ever-rising stress levels at work".

It claimed 12.8 million working days a year were lost due to work-related stress, and that 58% of workers complaining of job stress.

The report 'Stress and mental health in the workplace' claimed that fewer than 10% of firms had an official policy on mental health, even though 98% of respondents to a CBI survey said they felt that mental health should be a company concern.

Mind's chief executive Richard Brook said: "Clearly employers cannot afford to ignore the issues arising from the ever-increasing levels of occupational stress, and the 'long-hour culture' of working Britain today.

"We urge for more understanding and openness of stress and mental health problems in the workplace. Today's competitive and pressured work environments can make it very difficult for people to disclose mental health or work stress problems without the fear of affecting their career prospects."