‘Absolutely physically knackered’: UK workers on intensifying conditions

Teachers have to fill in social worker gaps while postal workers report being physically exhausted after having to walk miles with heavy bags at speed

• People at increased risk of burnout due to more demanding workdays, TUC says

When Karen Wilson started work as a secondary school teacher almost 40 years ago she had plenty of energy for life outside of school. She loved singing in choirs and opera groups and enjoyed her evenings.

But in the last decade that all changed. The intensity has definitely increased," she said. Teaching becomes your whole life because you don't have any energy to do anything else."