FORGET about bursting suitcases, it seems office workers are over packing their schedules before they jet off on holiday.

Recruitment firm Reed polled more than 5,000 workers and found nearly one in four suffers from Pre- Holiday Tension or PHT.

It seems the average worker is clocking up an extra nine hours of graft in the run up to their holiday in an attempt to clear their desks of outstanding paperwork.

Dhana Markanday, permanents manager for Reed Employment, in Regent Street, Swindon, says this has the potential to lead to problems, but adds that colleagues normally lend a hand.

She said: "Before they can go on holiday and relax, many workers are frantically trying to complete their workloads and arrange 'handovers' .

"When this Pre-Holiday Tension builds up most employees are happy to step in and help their colleagues. This means they don't have too much to worry about while they're away."

One in five directors are required to organise a handover with a colleague ensuring work on the books is completed while they are away.

And it seems the worrying does not end once you board the plane with half of those interviewed admitting they worry about things going wrong at work while they are sunning themselves. One in 10 said they also fretted about being made redundant.