Office Space Advice
Regus Survey Highlights Workplace Stress
Published November 30th, 2009 by Jennifer LeClaire
Stress. It’s a growing issue in Corporate America. In fact, about 60 percent of workers in key global economies report a rise in workplace stress over the last two years. So says a global Regus survey.
The Regus BusinessTracker asked more than 11,000 respondents from 13 countries about their experience in the workplace during tough economic times. The results offer a benchmark against which companies can compare workplace stress levels against global averages.
“Stress in the workforce can provide companies with real problems: management and work productivity can be seriously impaired, motivation levels may be damaged, and conflict between colleagues can undermine professionalism,” says William Willems, regional vice president for the South East Asia of The Regus Group. “With any of these factors in play, companies will see damage to bottom-line commercial and financial results. At a time when firms are fighting to return to significant growth, managing stress becomes a crucial issue.”
Measuring Workplace Stress
According to the Regus survey, workers in Chinese companies are the most stressed. Eighty-six percent of those surveyed report an increase in stress. That could be the result of massive economic boom currently shaping the country. The World Bank has forecast that the Chinese GDP is set to expand by an astronomical 8.4 per cent in 2009.
Meanwhile, the lowest increase in stress was reported in the Netherlands and Germany, with 47 percent and 48 percent, respectively, reporting a rise. Australian workers also experienced a lower rise in stress, with 55 percent reporting that their levels of stress have grown “higher” or “much higher” over the past two years, compared with the international average of 58 percent.
Specifically , the Regus survey reveals that 40 percent of Australian workers are particularly stressed by the increased focus on profitability that has arisen during the global recession. Another factor responsible for increasing workplace stress is the risk of unemployment or business failure: 36 percent identified this as a major stress-causing factor.
Company size has also seems to influence the level of stress increase experienced in recent years. For example, Regus discovered that workers in larger Australian companies – more than 1,000 employees – have experienced a greater rise in workplace stress. Seventy-two percent of employees in larger firms have reported higher levels of stress, versus 48 percent of people in small firms.
The Impact of Workplace Stress
Willems says that the results have implications for Australian businesses of all sizes as they move forward during economic recovery.
“Though many countries have announced the technical exit from recession, expert commentators have noted that recovery will not take significant strides for another six to 12 months,” he said. “For company employees and managers, this means that stressful challenges still lie ahead before the momentum of recovery really takes hold.”
Willems offers some parting words of advice on combating workplace stress: “There are a number of effective ways businesses can look to lessen stress, including encouraging Australians to take their well earned leave over the Christmas break, improving workplace culture, offering flexible work hours and allowing them the flexibility to work closer to home.”
Of course, Regus wants to be one solution through its serviced office space and virtual solutions. Regus is expanding rapidly in effort to have more serviced office space closer to more neighborhoods and virtual office space set ups can give employees greater flexibility to work from home with the same professional appearance.
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About the Author
Bill Brookshire November 30th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Stress. Great one-word way to start this article. I think everybody everywhere is stressed. Either stressed because they don’t have a job or stressed because they are doing the job of two people in a down economy. Regus is doing the industry a service with its surveys, and keeping its brand name in the news, which looks to be the point of this initiative.
Elizabeth Sanchez November 30th, 2009 at 10:45 am
This is interesting. I see good stress and bad stress. China has good stress. The stress that comes from being busy. Other places have bad stress. Regus didn’t make a direct plug for its serviced office space in the study, which surprised me. Usually their surveys are somewhat self-promotional.