BODYSHOP staff are 'burning out' due to stress caused by work volumes, according to the Retail Motor Industry Federation. The organisation says many employees are taking time off sick, leaving the industry to find jobs with better pay and conditions or moving to non-approved bodyshops which are not subject to the pressures of insurance company approval programmes.

The organisation's view was echoed by the Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association which said the problem was heightened by the relatively small pool of staff within the industry.