A large proportion of British workers are feeling pressure in the workplace as a result of the recession.

That is according to a new survey commissioned by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

The research revealed that some 44 per cent of employees were concerned about how the faltering economy was adding pressure to their work life.

Commenting on the results of the survey, Nattasha Freeman, the president of IOSH, said: "The worry from these findings is that more people are getting trapped by the pressures of living to work, rather than working to live."

She added: "Being overly pressured can affect an individual’s efficiency, frustrate teamwork and, on a personal level, it can impact on family life."

Some 65 per cent of those who admitted to feeling more pressure as a result of the recession said that they were chiefly concerned about the security of their job.

The Trades Union Congress recently calculated that the recession is creating an increase in the number of workers in research and development, finance and public administration doing unpaid overtime.