Employers are paying for Britain’s stressful work environments, as high levels of anxiety feed through into absenteeism, according to a study by Legal & General Group Protection.

It found that 33% of full time workers in the UK are concerned for their health due to the levels of stress caused by their daily routine. A further 24% say they are generally stressed at work, 20% say they work too many extra hours and 23% never take a break during work.

According to government figures, 250,000 Britons have claimed £600million in incapacity benefits for stress related illness, and the CBI’s annual absence and labour turnover survey estimates staff absence cost UK employers over £13bn last year.

Vanessa Sallows, underwriting and benefits director for Legal & General's Group Protection business, says: "Staff absence can have a major impact to a company’s bottom line.”

She adds that “The early intervention of the most appropriate support to help an absent employee, whether that is career counselling, stress management, cognitive behavioural therapy, (CBT) or a physical evaluation” can get over 50% of employees back into work in the first year.”