Human resources (HR) professionals are most likely to become ill as a result of work, according to research from medical plan provider Benenden. Nearly three in ten HR people claim to have become ill due to office stress, while more than half say work leaves them feeling 'run down'.

Other stressful jobs and sectors include professional services, with 29 per cent of respondents claiming their work has made them ill, manufacturing (25 per cent) and finance or accountancy (24 per cent).

Law and marketing are among the least stressful industries to work for, with only 10 per cent of respondents from each experiencing stress-related illness. However, three-quarters of legal workers say they get run down as a result of work, a higher figure than in any other sector.

Regionally, Scots were most likely to become ill as a result of work, with 26 per cent saying so, compared to 21 per cent in the Midlands. However, people in Wales and the South West were most likely to feel run down from work (70 per cent), compared with 63 per cent in the South East.

The company conducting the survey interviewed 1,101 adults in April.