Mobile Workers Less Stressed

Flexible working key to happier workplace

Dubai, UAE, 11 December 2013 – Economic volatility has increased pressure on Middle Eastern workers with 66% reporting that they are seeing more stress-related illness since the downturn, finds the latest survey from Regus, the global workplace provider. But businesses can help change this trend as workers identified flexible working as critical to help ease work-related stress (67%).

Stress-related illness can worsen or cause a whole series of health conditions ranging from obesity to heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, depression, gastrointestinal problems and asthma.<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[1]<!--[endif]--> Building on Regus research last year, which found that 48% of respondents globally felt their stress levels had risen in the past year, this latest study found that one third (33%) of Middle Eastern workers are actually losing sleep worrying about work.

The survey, canvassing the opinions of more than 20,000 senior executives and business owners across 95 countries, also found that in the Middle East stress is causing a worrying increase in absenteeism (52%) damaging business productivity as well as worker well-being.

Other outcomes include:

25% of respondents are worried about losing their job;

43% feel less confident about the sector they work in;

51% of respondents report that their family and friends have noticed they are stressed by work

57% say that stress is damaging their co-worker's personal relationships

Commenting on the study, Kory Thompson, UAE Country Manager at Regus says: “Difficult economic times in the West and an unprecedented rate of growth in emerging economies have put a strain on businesses and their employees. Workers are expected to do more with less, and this has taken its toll to the point many are close to burn-out.”

“It's not surprising that work-related worries and the sleepless nights they cause, are taking their toll on employees' personal lives. More importantly still, their health is at stake as stress is a known catalyst for a number of serious illnesses. Proactive businesses that address stress are likely to end up with a healthier workforce and reduced absenteeism,” added Thompson.

Hossam Khalifa, Country Manager for LINKdotNET, Qatar LLC, is one such advocate of the benefits of flexible working. He said: “The ease of service that Regus provides is incomparable. Regus removes all the headaches and logistics that a starter business has to go through. The great location has also added value to our business. As well as offering efficient use of resources, the flexible working and facilities are better than if we had to rent or buy our own office.”