More than 50% of employees across the North West have been reduced to tears because of stress in the workplace, a new survey by Liverpool based Medicash has found.

A quarter of workers admit taking time off as a result of stress and one in ten has been so stressed out they have quit their job.

The survey of 3000 workers by leading healthcare cash plan provider Medicash also revealed that, on an average day, a quarter of the workforce feel stressed after just an hour at work.

Results showed that stress is driving alarming levels of workers to drink with one in ten people in the North West admitting that, most days, they find work so stressful that they have to have a drink at the end of the day.

The picture is even worse for those working in small businesses; they are twice as likely as their counterparts in cosy corporate jobs to reach for a beer or a glass of wine at the end of the day.

Heavy workload was cited as the thing most likely to stress people out, closely followed by dealing with difficult customers.

Sue Weir, chief executive at Medicash said:

‘Smaller businesses often don’t have the time or resource to devote to employee wellbeing initiatives and yet sustained levels of stress in a workforce can lead to long term sickness which is not good for either employer or employee.

Encouraging employees to take a preventative approach to their own health by putting initiatives in place to help them manage their stress levels is proven to have a positive effect on a company’s bottom line.’

Those in the North East were found to be more likely than any other region to have a drink to help them to de-stress. However, they were also more likely than any other region to do yoga to relax.

Workers in the East Midlands showed the most concern about their job security whilst nearly one quarter of those surveyed in the North West admitted that work worries meant they had lost at least two nights sleep in the last month.

On average, a third of people say they have been the victim of bullying at work with Scottish workers claiming the highest levels.

Medicash’s Sue Weir added:

‘With so many people turning to drink and taking time off as a result of stress it’s more important than ever that employers provide tools to help employees manage their stress levels. This needn’t cost the earth and there are a number of simple and cost effective solutions such as free gym memberships and telephone counselling services which demonstrate an employers’ commitment to the emotional wellbeing of their employees.’

Top 10 stress inducers in a small business

1 Dealing with difficult customers

2 Heavy workload

3 Computer freezing while you are in the middle of something

4 Boss asking you to do too much work

5 Boss asking you to do something which isn’t in your job description

6 Printer breaking

7 Computer taking too long to get going

8 The internet not working

9 Phone ringing non-stop

10 Colleagues not listening to you

Businesses have a major role to play in helping protect and enhance the environment, in line with wider goals of sustainable development.  The huge shift towards a more sustainable, low carbon and resource efficient future offers opportunities for creating economic growth and job creation as well as redefining the way we all work and do business. 

Our latest survey sets out to establish how well businesses are adapting to the environmental opportunities and challenges that are now facing all of us across the Northwest.  

The survey will:

• assess how businesses are preparing and adapting for a low carbon economy
• determine business take-up of energy and waste reduction initiatives;
• evaluate the effectiveness of current environmental support programmes;
• consider the employee skills that may be needed for the future.  

Completing the on-line survey will only take around five minutes of your time but will be invaluable in terms of the data that we will be able to collect. 

Take the survey here

A full report of the survey findings will be posted on the Chambers of Commerce Northwest website towards the end of June.

Take this ten minute test and discover untapped potential.

 In a stagnant economy doing business can become a bitter battle for every percentage of market share. How can your business break through the limits of the status quo – your current products, markets, suppliers and distributors?

As the old saying goes, “if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got”.

This questionnaire is designed to explore factors that may enhance or reduce the ability of your organisation to be innovative in terms of business strategy.

It is a self-audit tool that is the first step in a three stage process of identifying, understanding and eliminating the assumptions about your business that may be holding you back. Challenge your business comfort zone and put the strategic initiative back in your hands.

The survey is and its results are completely free. It should only take you couple of minutes.

Take the survey here

The Department for Business (BIS) would like to encourage businesses to take part in the national Business Pulse survey 2009 that supports the annual week-long Small Business Week taking place between 19th – 23rd October 2009. We hope that you will take the opportunity to complete the questionnaire and share your thoughts.

The Business Pulse Survey takes only a few minutes to complete and can be accessed at:
http://www.smallbusinessweek2009.co.uk/businesspulse

By taking part you also have the opportunity to win tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

The deadline for taking part in the survey (and entering the free prize draw) is Monday 28th September.