People regularly exposed to emotionally-charged situations are more likely to suffer from ill-health, psychological issues, and have lower job satisfaction. By contrast, senior business directors - under huge performance pressures but often more removed from direct contact with customers - are the least likely to suffer from these problems. Workers rather than bosses are bearing the brunt of increasing stress levels at work.

Rankings of occupations follow (ranked in order of those occupations with most reported problems). The study of employees in 26 occupations was carried out by business psychology firm Robertson Cooper in 2004.

One of the founders, Professor Cary Cooper of Lancaster University Management School, would be able to discuss the impact of emotional situations at work, and the future for helping staff deal with emotionally-charged careers.

Rank

 Physical health
 Psychological well-being
 Job satisfaction
 
1
 Ambulance
 Social services providing care
 Prison officer
 
2
 Teachers
 Teachers
 Ambulance
 
3
 Social services Providing care
 Fire brigade
 Police
 
4
 Customer services - call centre
 Ambulance
 Customer services - call centre
 
5
 Bar staff
 Vets
 Social services Providing care
 
6
 Prison officer
 Lecturers
 Teachers
 
7
 Management (private sector)
 Clerical and admin
 Nursing
 
8
 Clerical and admin
 Management (private sector)
 Medical / dental
 
9
 Police
 Prison officer
 Allied health professionals
 
10
 Teaching assistant
 Research = academic
 Bar staff
 
11
 Head teachers
 Police
 Management (private sector)
 
12

 
 Secretarial / business support
 Customer services - call centre
 Fire brigade
 
13
 Research = academic
 Director (public sector)
 Vets
 
14
 Lecturers
 Allied health professionals
 Clerical and admin
 
15
 Senior police
 Bar staff
 Management (public sector)
 
16
 Nursing
 Nursing
 Lecturers
 
17
 Management (public sector)
 Medical / dental
 Head teachers
 
18

 
 Allied health professionals
 Senior police
 Teaching assistant
 
19
 Medical / dental
 Secretarial / business support
 Secretarial / business support
 
20
 Accountant
 Head teachers
 Director (public sector)
 
21
 Fire brigade
 Management (public sector)
 Research = academic
 
22
 Vets
 Accountant
 Senior police
 
23

 
 Director (public sector)
 Teaching assistant
 School lunchtime supervisors
 
24
 Analyst
 Analyst
 Accountant
 
25

 
 School lunchtime supervisors
 School lunchtime supervisors
 Analyst
 
26
 Director / managing director (private sector)
 Director / managing director (private sector)
 Director / managing director (private sector)