Spare a thought for the beleaguered civil servant. Nine out of ten complain of too much work and rising stress levels.

These results, based on a survey of several hundred government employees, have shocked the Public and Commercial Services union. A spokesman said they would be seeking meetings with ministers early in the New Year to find ways to ease the problem. Urgent action is essential, the union believes.

Most civil servants put the blame for growing stress on inadequate staffing levels and excessive workloads, complicated by unrealistic targets, insufficient training and lack of support from managers.

About 30% of respondents also complained of bullying and harassment.

There is widespread agreement amongst experts that working under pressure can be beneficial to both productivity and personal satisfaction. When pressure crosses the line and is perceived as stress, however, the advantages generally shift into disadvantages.

Warning signs of stress include:

• aggression, irritability and anti-social behaviour
• concentration problems and sleeping difficulties
• repeated headaches, colds or flu
• drinking or smoking too much.

Elliott Chase