Q1 U.S. Small Business Survey Health & Wellbeing

Transcription

1 Q1 U.S. Small Business Survey Health & Wellbeing

2 Methodology Populus interviewed 1,002 business leaders (owner managers, proprietors, managing directors, board level directors / partners, and directors) in SMEs with up to 249 employees in the UK and the online between 8th and 22nd February interviews were conducted in the UK and 500 were conducted in the. Where results do not sum to 100%, this may be due to rounding, multiple responses, or the exclusion of don t know categories. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. For more information, see Council/. 2

3 Health and Wellbeing Thinking about your health & wellbeing today compared with the beginning of the economic downturn, which of the following best describes how you feel? NET: Better today 29% A lot better today 8% A little better today 21% Neither better nor worse today 42% A little worse today 20% A lot worse today 9% NET: Worse today 29% Thinking about your health & wellbeing today compared with the last 12 months, which of the following best describes how you feel? NET: Better today 32% A lot better today 8% A little better today 25% Neither better nor worse today 44% A little worse today 18% A lot worse today 6% NET: Worse today 24% Thinking about your levels of stress during the last 12 months, which of the following best describes how you feel today? NET: More stressed than 12 months ago 43% I feel a lot more stressed than I did 12 months ago 15% I feel a little more stressed than I did 12 months ago 28% My stress level has not changed in the last 12 months 33% I feel a little less stressed than I did 12 months ago 17% I feel a lot less stressed than I did 12 months ago 8% NET: Less stressed than 12 months ago 25% 3

4 Which of the following do you experience these days at work? NET: Any 75% Lack of energy 33% Anxious thoughts 29% Headaches 32% Back pain 30% Neck pain 24% Irritability 22% Eating more or less than you used to 18% Restlessness 18% Having trouble concentrating 20% Insomnia 14% Losing your temper more frequently 13% Drinking more alcohol than you used to 8% Stomach ache 9% None of these 25% Which of the following do you experience these days outside of work? NET: Any 78% Broken or interrupted sleep 30% Lack of energy 30% Back pain 30% Anxious thoughts 27% Headaches 29% Irritability 20% Insomnia 22% Neck pain 23% Restlessness 20% Eating more or less than you used to 19% Having trouble concentrating 16% Losing your temper more frequently 12% Drinking more alcohol than you used to 8% Negative dreams or nightmares 10% 4

5 Workload Approximately how many hours do you work during an average day? 3 hours or less 5% 4-6 hours 13% 7 hours 8% 8 hours 22% 9 hours 18% 10 hours 19% 11 hours 5% 12 hours 5% 13 hours 1% 14 hours 2% 15 hours or over 2% Mean (hours) 8.4 Approximately how many hours did you work during an average day 12 months ago? 3 hours or less 5% 4-6 hours 15% 7 hours 6% 8 hours 29% 9 hours 16% 10 hours 16% 11 hours 3% 12 hours 5% 13 hours 1% 14 hours 1% 15 hours or over 4% Mean (hours)

6 You stated that you are working more hours per day now compared with 12 months ago. What are the main reasons for this? [Respondents who are working more hours per day now compared with 12 months ago] I am working harder to service current clients 39% I have been struggling to keep my business afloat 27% I am heavily prospecting for new clients 22% I have less staff 26% I have had a surge of new business / clients 29% Other reason 14% You stated that you are working less hours per day now compared with 12 months ago. What are the main reasons for this? [Respondents who are working less hours per day now compared with 12 months ago] I have less work / lost clients 36% I have implemented technologies to make me more efficient (for example, CRM system) 17% I am handing over more responsibility 11% I have hired new staff 6% I am winding my business down 7% Other reason 42% 6

7 Lifestyle Which of the following words would you use to describe yourself at work? Determined 48% Focused 48% Open-minded 42% Flexible 44% Budget-minded 43% Creative 39% Easy-going 34% Persevering 30% Resilient 27% Stressed 26% Frustrated 18% Risk-taking 13% Impatient 11% Irritable 12% Aggressive 12% None of these 2% Approximately how many hours of moderate-intensity physical activity do you do every week? None 8% NET: Any 92% 30 minutes or less 12% Around 1 hour 9% Around 2 hours 12% Around 3 hours 12% Around 4 hours 12% Around 5 hours 9% Around 6 hours 5% Around 7 hours 3% Around 8 hours 3% Around 9 hours 1% Around 10 hours 4% Over 10 hours 9% Mean (hours) 3.2 7

8 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? NET: Agree Neither agree nor disagree NET: Disagree I try to manage a good work/ life balance 76% 14% 9% I feel mentally prepared to tackle the business challenges for the year ahead 69% 21% 10% I give priority to my physical health 59% 24% 17% I have an annual checkup/ screening for physical illness outside of work I'm always one of the last people to leave the office at night I know where to go for help or support if I experience stress at work 59% 13% 28% 54% 29% 17% 54% 28% 18% I like to be one of the first people in the office 53% 32% 15% Working long hours helps me to lead by example 39% 36% 25% I try not to work beyond my official working hours 35% 26% 39% My company supplies support for the physical health of employees My company supplies support for the mental or psychologic al health of employees 34% 30% 36% 29% 31% 40% 8

9 Growth and Confidence To what extent do you feel confident or not confident about your business growth in the next 12 months? NET: Feel confident 54% I feel very confident about the prospects for my business in the next 12 months 18% I feel fairly confident about the prospects for my business in the next 12 months 36% I feel neither confident nor not confident about the prospects for my business in the next 12 months 25% I do not feel very confident about the prospects for my business in the next 12 months 14% I do not feel confident at all about the prospects for my business in the next 12 months 7% NET: Don't feel confident 21% Thinking about the potential for growth in your business in the coming year, do you think your company will...? NET: Grow 57% Grow by more than 20 per cent 7% Grow between 10 and 20 per cent 18% Grow between 1 and 10 percent 32% No growth / stay about the same 28% Shrink by between 1 and 10 per cent 5% Shrink by between 10 and 20 per cent 3% Shrink by more than 20 per cent 2% NET: Shrink 10% Don't know 5% Mean (% growth)

10 Thinking about the prospects for economic recovery, which of the following best describes your current opinion? Do you think the recovery will start in...? Less than 6 months 4% 6 months 6% 1 year 12% Between 1-2 years 23% 2-3 years 20% 4-5 years 11% 6-7 years 2% 8-9 years 2% 10 or more years 5% Economy is already in recovery 15% Do you think your business faces more or less risks now than it did 12 months ago? NET: Face more risks 43% We face a lot more risks now than 12 months ago 17% We face a little more risks now than 12 months ago 26% We face no more or less risks now than 12 months ago 42% We face a little less risks now than 12 months ago 11% We face a lot less risks now than 12 months ago 4% NET: Face less risks 15% 10

11 Work / Life Balance Which of the following best describes your vacation / holiday plans for the next 12 months? I will definitely take a vacation / holiday in the next year 46% I will definitely not take a vacation / holiday in the next year 19% I will try to take a vacation / holiday this year, but it may not be possible / restricted because of work obligations 29% I will be taking a vacation / holiday, but will definitely be bringing along work 6% Please rank how important the following are to you. Please rank from 1 to 5, where 1 is the most important to you and 5 is the least important. Most important 2nd 3rd 4th Least important Mean Family life 51% 28% 9% 7% 6% 1.89 My health 33% 32% 23% 10% 2% 2.15 Work 12% 26% 35% 19% 9% 2.88 vacation 3% 4% 11% 22% 59% 4.31 Exercise 2% 10% 22% 42% 24%

12 Stress and Fear Please indicate to what extent each of the following causes you stress. NET: Causes stress Neither stressful nor not stressful NET: Does not cause stress Losing my business all together 54% 18% 21% Repaying personal debt 52% 17% 23% The risk of losing clients 51% 25% 20% Bringing in new business 49% 24% 22% My health and well-being 41% 36% 23% Being on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 38% 23% 17% Repaying business debt 35% 21% 23% Please indicate to what extent you are fearful or not fearful about the following. NET: Causes fear Neither fearful nor not fearful NET: Causes no fear The loss of customers 49% 24% 27% Losing my business altogether 47% 22% 31% My health and/ or general well-being deteriorating 47% 30% 23% Repayments on existing personal debt 43% 23% 34% My work situation affecting my family life or close personal relationships 36% 29% 35% Repayments on existing business debt 32% 29% 39% Laying off staff 29% 30% 41% 12

13 Insurance and Legal Requirements Approximately how much do you pay per year for your business insurance? Under $600 12% Between $601 - $1,000 9% Between $1,001 - $1,500 10% Between $1,501 - $2,500 13% Over $2,500 19% I don't have business insurance 27% Don't know 10% Mean ($000s) 1.41 There are a number of legal requirements that need to be in place in order for you to run a business, including compulsory employers liability insurance if you have employees. How sure are you that your company has these requirements in place? I am certain my business has everything in place 57% I assume that my business has everything in place but cannot be totally sure 26% My business meets some requirements but not others 7% I know that my business does not meet most requirements 2% Don t Know / Not Sure 8% Which of the following describe why you do not have all of the legal requirements in place in order for you to run a business? Only a small business 64% Currently working towards fulfilling the requirements 22% Can't afford all legal requirements at this time 19% Not aware of all the different requirements 15% We are a new business / inexperienced 11% Disorganised 8% Other reason 17% Prefer not to answer 9% 13

14 Future Challenges What do you believe will be challenges that your business will face over the next 12 months? (Total Mentions) Loss of customers 38% Customer loyalty / retention 29% Improving business performance 25% Budget cuts 22% Eurozone instability / global economic downturn 12% Access to finance 19% Increased regulation 21% Political uncertainty 25% Lack of talent / qualified staff 14% Maintaining technology 12% Redundancies / Laying off staff 11% Reduced bonuses 6% Mergers and Acquisitions 4% Something else 17% None of these / No business challenges 14% -End- 14