Office Massage could play an important role in companies across the U.K. as workers turn to alcohol, smoking and comfort eating to deal with the rising stress of their jobs, warns The Stroke Association and Siemens.

In a joint report, they found almost a quarter of staff (23%) said they would smoke more to deal with stress, while more than a third (34%) said they would drink more.

The worst sector for drinking was marketing, where 59% drink said they were drinking more than usual to combat the stress of their job. Having a masseuse provide regular Office Massage would certainly help, but may be only part of the solution.

The recruitment sector was deemed the most stressful, with 82% of recruitment consultants reporting regular stress. The legal sector followed closely behind with 78% of employees feeling the pressure.

Joe Korner, director of external affairs for The Stroke Association, believes that it is up to employers to do more to encourage staff to de-stress, especially through regular exercise. Otherwise, he warns, there could be dire implications for employees’ health.

Eating more to combat work-related stress was the answer for 43%. Just 13% take exercise to let off steam.

Korner said: “Stress is undesirable and responding to it in the wrong ways, for instance by drinking excessive alcohol, over-eating or smoking, can all lead to high blood pressure which is the single biggest risk factor for strokes. Stress is a major issue for people of all ages, especially those working in stressful occupations.”

For more information about Office Massage or to learn how onsite massage can help combat workplace stress visit www.5minuteangels.com

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