Harder, faster, longer working conditions seriously affecting physical and emotional wellbeing

UK managers are working longer hours in more stressful conditions to cope with the recession, with serious effects on their physical and mental health, according to a new report comparing the wellbeing of managers in 2012 with those in 2007. The Chartered Management Institute/Simplyhealth report, The Quality of Working Life 2012, surveyed over 1,300 managers in 2007 and 2012 and paints a bleak picture of the impact of the recession on UK workplaces. Workers report having no choice but to work overtime and mental and physical wellbeing has declined for 12 of 13 key health indicators. Levels of stress, insomnia, feeling unable to cope and depression have all risen over the five-year period, while the majority of parents surveyed (63 per cent) are worried working long hours is damaging relationships with their children.