Smile at work at your peril!

German scientists have come up with research findings that suggest people who are required to smile a lot at work could be putting their health in danger.

Researchers at a German university claim that enforced jolliness on the job is much more likely to make people fall ill. This would include flight attendants, sales personnel, call centre operators, waiters, and others in contact with the public for extended periods of time.

The study was conducted over two years at Frankfurt University and and concluded that that fake friendliness led to depression, stress, and a lowering of the immune system. This in turn can trigger more serious ailments, such as high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.

"Every time a person is forced to repress his true feelings, there are negative consequences for his health," Profesor Dieter Zapf added.