STRESSED, overworked and broke — and that’s just during the holidays.

BANK staff saw their pay plunge by as much as 25% last year, with secretaries, engineers and construction workers also being hit.

Irish job seekers and workers are “hopeful” for 2010 according to a new survey carried out by the recruitment organisation Saongroup.com, which includes myhorizon.ie, a careers development website.

SEVEN out of 10 workers are unhappy with the amount of paid holidays they receive and half said they would take a pay cut for more days off, a survey has shown.

Company bosses are taking steps to help talented and motivated staff balance their work and non-working lives, it was claimed today.