Three-quarters of Midland office workers are working in virtual sweat-shops and left to suffer chronic health issues such as headaches, backache and eye fatigue because of indifference from their bosses, new research suggests today.

An independent study of 1,500 UK office workers shows employees are suffering in silence, while their companies have an ambivalent attitude towards staff health and their own legal responsibilities.

The research, commissioned by visual display products supplier ViewSonic Europe, has also uncovered what it claims is a significant 'invisible productivity loss' for businesses, while it claims staff are not helping themselves.

According to the research, young workers - those aged 16-24 - are most at risk, working long hours in front of their screens without a break.

It also concludes that more than two-thirds of workers w ould consider suing employers due to health problems at work.

ViewSonic's director of European marketing Mel Taylor said the study showed that Midland office workers were plagued by chronic ill-health, but lacked the will to change things.