An odd question perhaps, but that is the effect of checking e-mails before you go to bed, according to recent research commissioned by Crowne Plaza Hotels.

The findings suggest that the late-night checking of e-mails has the equivalent effect on the body of drinking a double espresso when you're trying to wind down for a good night's sleep. Light from the late-night use of laptops, mobile phones and blackberries interferes with the body's production of sleep-enhancing melatonin.

But this problem of interfering with sleep isn't only going to affect those away on business. With so many ways of keeping in touch with the office and with so many people wishing (or feeling under pressure) to be contactable at all times of night and day it isn't surprising that workplace performance is being compromised by this "always on" stressful mentality.

In the hospitality industry, on which Buxton relies quite heavily for employment, has long, and often, unsociable hours these are significant stresses to be coped with.

In a recent Fairness Index survey complied by business management firm GoodCorporation, 46% of hospitality and entertainment workers thought their boss did not promote a good work-life balance. The cost of sickness absence in this sector is over £600 per employee per year and the issue of work-life balance is clearly a significant factor.

Equally challenging are the long hours and physically demanding work of farming.

The UK charity Farm Crisis Network has recently reported a 60% increase in calls for help and a rise in problems such as marriage breakdown arising from the strain of financial difficulties, flooding, government policies and outbreaks of animal disease.

For our quarry workers too, stress at work is a real issue with this industry reporting some of the highest figures of sickness absence – an average of just over 11 days per year per employee.

Whatever your business, there are proven benefits from introducing and implementing wellbeing policies at work. There are also, of course, the legal requirements for an employer to assess and reduce the hazards at work including those arising from stress.

Frances Taylor is a member of the International Stress Management Association, the UK's leading charity working to promote good practice and reduce stress in the workplace.

Frances' company, brightspark, provides consultancy and training support to ensure that businesses comply with the HSE Management Standards and that employees have the awareness, skills and knowledge to reduce the effects of undue stress at work. She also has a private practice in Bakewell and Manchester.

For more information visit www.brightsparktraining.net