work interesting and likes her colleagues. But she is always exhausted because of long working hours and higher demands.
Her case is not unusual. In the past five years a number of professionals, including teachers and nurses have complained of increasing stress: ‘Nurses are often squeezed. On the one hand, there are budget cuts. On the other, patients are more aware of what they should expect. When they don’t get it, they can sometimes take it out on the nurses.’
In the medical profession, the combination of long hours, lack of control and heavy responsibility can be a dangerous mixture. Recently, junior doctor Alan Massie suddenly died after working an 86 hour week.
A lot of people feel their pride and joy in work is disappearing because of pressure. During the last years employers have tried to make more money, not by taking on new employees, but by making the old ones work harder. People have often had to take on the work of those who have become redundant and worry that they might be the next one.