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Barrister Fiona Scolding: "I don't go out"

I work roughly 60 or 70 hours per week depending on what caseload I've got.

My relationship with my husband deteriorates as we never spend any time together, I don't get a chance to do basic things around the house and my house is a tip.

I don't have an opportunity to see my friends as much or go out - really my social life suffers. If I'm working really really hard I get coughs and colds or flu.

I know if I was working reasonable hours that just wouldn't happen. I choose to do my job but the thing about work life balance is those who can't choose - like nurses and teachers who work extremely long hours

Report findings

The study, carried out by the Department of Trade and Industry and Management Today magazine, raised concerns about long hours and illness.

There was "strong evidence" that stress levels were worse if people worked long hours and had few flexible working options.

• The number of women working more than 60 hours has more than doubled from one in 16 in 2000 to one in eight today.

• Three out of four people were working overtime, and of these, only a third got extra pay or time off in lieu, the research found.

• More than 70% of workers who were highly stressed did not have access to flexible working practices.

• The most stressed workers were in their mid to late 30s, according to the study, by the Department of Trade and Industry and Management Today magazine.

• One in five men had visited the doctor complaining of stress, rising to a quarter of those aged over 40.

• Half the people polled said their employer would only step in to tackle a work-life problem when a crisis loomed.

The daily rush, but there's a steep rise in hours

• People wanted a better balance between their work and home lives.

  But many were worried that their careers would suffer.

• Four out of 10 unstressed workers played regular sport, compared to one in four of those with high stress levels.

• From April next year parents of young and disabled children will have the right to apply to work flexibly.

• The Government has launched a special �10M fund to help promote innovative working practices which boost business and improve employees' work-life balance.