Employment minister Alan Johnson has urged firms to do more to help employees balance home and work lives.

Firms where staff were working long hours ignored the causes of stress-related problems and only treated the symptoms.

Mr Johnson said: "We only have to look at the stress-related absence costs to industry, estimated at £370 million a year, as an example of how workplace pressures can lead to burntout employees and productivity nosedives."

TUC general secretary John Monks said: "It is absolutely vital we put an end to Burnout Britain as soon as possible. Long hours are a cause of stress and other mental disorders, occupational diseases and accidents at work."

Mr Monks said the Government had the power to end the long hours culture at the stroke of a pen by ending the provision for workers to opt out of the European Working Time Directive aimed at restricting the working week to 48 hours.