The survey was conducted as part of the NUJ's contribution to ‘Work Your Proper Hours Day' on Friday.

The day was a TUC-organised event highlighting long hours culture and exposing the level of unpaid overtime worked by employees across the UK.

NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said: "The long hours culture is threatening people's well-being.

"We have seen a rise in stress cases, health concerns and journalists who struggle to achieve any work-life balance.

"Companies are forcing people to work longer and longer hours as a result of staff shortages and are profiting from thousands of hours of unpaid overtime.

"It is time they took urgent action to address the health and well-being concerns of their staff."

One of those who responded to the confidential e-mail survey said: "I work more than five hours of unpaid overtime a week, arriving early, working in the evening, and through my lunch hour. Despite this, my service has still been called into question when I have had a family emergency or as recently, was ill. I've even had to work from home, in a frightful state of health, while being booked off sick - to counteract any possible negative impression."