DAMNING new figures indicate that nearly nine out of ten employees in Yorkshire are stressed at work.

The results come from a survey covering a broad range of industries in the county, which was based on the analysis of a poll of 412 employees last February.

The research, carried out by employment law firm Peninsula with recruitment firm Portfolio Payroll, also shows that out of 169 Yorkshire bosses questioned, seven out of ten of them considered stress to be "just a phase" that did not merit time off work.

Most employees (60 per cent) said they would not admit to their boss they were stressed, and a big majority - 76 per cent - was under the impression that their employer did not understand the seriousness of stress. As many as 91 per cent thought that their boss did not do enough to combat the problem.

The findings have led to a plea from Danny Done, managing director of Portfolio Payroll, to the county's bosses "to be aware of stress and address it as soon as possible".

He said: "It is vital that you create an open atmosphere in your working environment. This is the key. If your employees feel that, as a boss, they can approach you and raise and discuss worries regarding stress, then they will be confident of overcoming the problem.

"A friendly environment will resolve stress-related difficulties much more quickly."

But openness and a sense of "family" within the company should be encouraged.

"From the boardroom down to the cleaning staff, all employees must adopt the same attitude for it to be effective," he said.

To employees

Are you stressed at work?

Yes 89 per cent; No 11 per cent

Have you ever taken days off as a consequence of stress?

Yes 76 per cent; No 24 per cent

Would you admit to your employer that you were stressed?

Yes 26 per cent; No 60 per cent; Maybe 14 per cent

Do you feel that your employer understands how serious stress actually is?

Yes 24 per cent; No 76 per cent

Do you think that your employer does enough to combat stress in your workplace?

Yes nine per cent; No 91 per cent.

Has workplace stress affected your personal life in any way?

Yes 69 per cent; No 18 per cent; Maybe 13 per cent

To employers

Do you consider stress to be justifiable or an excuse?

Justifiable 34 per cent; Just an excuse 66 per cent

Are you concerned that stress affects your employees negatively?

Yes 72 per cent; No 28 per cent

Do you think stress is a reasonable excuse for an employee to take time off?

Yes 27 per cent; No 64 per cent; only very occasionally nine per cent

Updated: 11:03 Wednesday, April 07, 2004