Survey Says: Why Are Employees More Stressed Right Now?

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By Rieva Lesonsky

It's been a challenging year for many of us -- and the increased stress levels of U.S. workers reflect that. Fewer owners of family-owned businesses think they'll be able to pass the business on to the next generation. And, on a lighter note, women seem to be better at bargain-hunting, which could come in handy when shopping for corporate holiday gifts. Here's a closer look at some of the latest small-business surveys.

Stress Case

Apparently employee stress levels are climbing -- and it's not just due to holiday madness. A new study from ComPsych found that more workers are suffering from high stress levels than in 2009. Among the findings:

• 68 percent of employees say they are highly stressed, extremely fatigued and feel out of control.


• 27 percent have constant but manageable stress.


• 5 percent have low stress levels.

What's bringing these folks to the boiling point? Workload was blamed by 35 percent of employees, "people issues" came in a close second at 33 percent and a lack of job security stressed out 20 percent of respondents.

Stress doesn't just affect your staff -- it can hurt your business, with 44 percent of workers saying it costs them at least an hour of productivity a day. With numbers like that, it's worth thinking about how you can ease your staff's stress, even if that increases your own stress levels.

Family Business Outlook Uncertain

PwC U.S. recently released its second Family Business Survey (the first was conducted in 2007). While 72 percent of family business owners surveyed in 2007 said they intended to pass the business on to the next generation, only 55 percent said that this year -- suggesting family businesses are concerned about the economy's long-term growth prospects and their ability to thrive, or even survive.

Despite that, however, family business owners are more optimistic -- 58 percent think their core markets will improve in the next 12 months, 70 percent plan to expand and grow in the next 12 months, and 76 percent say they have access to surplus cash.

Part of the reason for this optimism may be that they aren't novices. Sixty-three percent have been in business for more than 50 years, and 37 percent have been operating 20 to 49 years, meaning they've gone through recessions before -- and lived to tell the tale.

Gift Giving on a Budget

Women have a reputation as better bargain-hunters than men. Does that extend to women business owners, too? Judging by the results of the 2010 American Express OPEN Small Business Holiday Monitor, I'd say the answer is yes. (Actually, based on my own experiences, I'd say the answer is yes, even if the survey didn't exist.)

So far this holiday season, when it comes to business gift giving, more female business owners than male business owners (40 percent versus 31 percent) found creative ways to give gifts without spending any cash, including using rewards points, bartering, making gifts or giving their company's products or services as gifts.

While 45 percent of male business owners will spend $500 or more on work-related gifts this season, just 22 percent of female business owners will spend that much. As an avid bargain-hunter myself, I'm certain this can be chalked up to smart shopping and spending, not Scrooge-like stinginess.

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