- SME leaders report increased stress and mental health problems
- Higher workloads, technological constraints and a lack of stopping time all contribute
- Technological concerns such as downtime and data violations concern leaders
British leaders of SMEs are increasingly stressed and struggling with mental health problems thanks to the increase in workloads, hours and tasks, reveals the research of Virgin Media 02. A shocking of three quarters (76%) admit that changing trade requests have an impact on their mental health.
For most of us, the holidays offer a welcome break, the chance to relax and just an opportunity to deactivate the madness linked to work. For SME leaders, many do not have the opportunity, 28% saying that they cannot afford to take a leave.
Managers can also expect white nights, 33% losing sleep at night on technological worries in particular, because technology constraints are directly correlated with well-being for 89% of respondents.
‘Too many hats’
Almost anyone will tell you that technology can sometimes be disturbing, and more than half (53%) of SME directors have dealt with technological problems causing a waste of time, impacts of income or significant stress in only the last month.
Unsurprisingly, threats of cybersecurity as well as technical defects and data violations are cited as stressors for 79% of respondents – with technological downtime costing 37% of leaders that their business that their business cannot afford, and 31% suffering a loss of productivity as a result.
SME directors spend an average of 10 hours per week on tasks that are outside their basic expertise, and 54% must spend more time on unknown tasks than those for which they are formed, adding enormous pressure.
The report underlines that the leaders of SMEs are frequently named de facto as a benchmark for problems they “do not really know how to solve” (59%), and many are unable to “deactivate”, with 96% report in e-mail verification or solve trade problems outside working hours.
“Pressures on the shoulders of the SME community is enormous,” said Ross Pearson, responsible for the small business of Virgin Media O2 Business.
“Especially as many make difficult commercial decisions and are often stretched in many different areas. SME leaders have always been known for having “worn several hats”, but in today’s business landscape, the term has a new meaning. The latest data from Virgin Media O2 Business reveal the assessment of additional responsibilities, with measures necessary to support the well-being of leaders and mental health. ”
