A report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel (www.cipd.co.uk) says that 40% of people check their work e-mails at least five times a day outside working hours, while almost a third say that having remote access to work means they can never fully ‘switch off’.

The survey of over 2,000 UK employees found that nearly a fifth feel that they are “under surveillance while working remotely”; this makes them feel anxious and affects their quality of sleep.

Christine Grant, principal lecturer in Occupational Psychology at Coventry University, said: “Lack of time to rest and having trouble with sleep are the most concerning aspect of these findings, with a hugely detrimental impact on well-being.

“The other danger is that, while they feel like they are under surveillance, remote workers can essentially become ‘invisible’ to their employer. They can be over-worked, becoming stressed and burnt out, but nobody would know.

“Employers must wake up to the damage that an ‘always on’ working culture can do, and line managers should lead by example, identifying staff who are at risk and offering support.”