Most workers on the brink of stress-city

MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday, 10 February 2015

Most workers on the brink of stress-city

Office life has never been more stressful than now, with most workers saying they are closer to burn-out now than they were just five years ago.

This is one of the insights revealed in a recent Regus report that canvassed 22,000 business people in more than 100 countries worldwide about their work environment. The top triggers of workplace stress are lack of exercise, unreliable IT, and feeling understaffed.

With the pressure on to find ways of reducing stress, many workers believe one way of easing the tension associated with demanding jobs is a break from the main office – at least some of the time. A significant majority of global respondents – 74% – found a change of scenery such as working from another location to be a good stress reliever, the report reveals.

”Early in the new work year, with a long and difficult year ahead, employers have to think seriously about managing their employees’ stress levels,” said Nick Bradshaw, Regus New Zealand’s Country Manager. “Office tensions are rising, but flexible working provides a solution.”

“In fact, having the freedom to work away from the main office from time to time is now seen as a key factor in achieving a good work-life balance, with 60% of respondents believing flexible workers are better off. The experiences of those lucky enough to be able to work flexibly further support this finding.”

The research shows that freelance workers also tend to be more relaxed, with 55% of those questioned saying that they think freelance workers, with their freedom to change location and set their own hours, are less stressed than regular staff.

“While stress levels are mounting in the workplace as a result of a combination of factors such as feeling deskbound and under-resourced, workers across the globe agree that flexible working provides a useful outlet,” said Mr Bradshaw.

“With a significant percentage of business people believing that flexible and freelance workers enjoy a better work-life balance, offering options for flexible working can help to keep the workforce both productive and happy.”

www.regus.co.nz

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