75% Of Nigerian Workers Are More Stressed...Mobile Workers Less Stressed

Economic volatility has increased pressure on Nigerian workers with 75% reporting that they are seeing more stress-related illness since the downturn, finds the latest survey from global workplace provider Regus. But businesses can help change this trend as workers identified flexible working as critical to help ease work-related stress (84%).

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. 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 almost one third (30%) of Nigerian 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 West Africa stress is causing a worrying increase in absenteeism (60%) damaging business productivity as well as worker well-being.

Other outcomes include:
22% of respondents are worried about losing their job;

29% feel less confident about the sector they work in;

36% of respondents report that their family and friends have noticed they are stressed by work

56% say that stress is damaging their co-worker's personal relationships

Commenting on the study, Joanne Bushell, VP Africa 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 in their workforce are likely to end up with a healthier workforce and reduced absenteeism.'

About:
Regus is the global workplace provider.

Its network of more than 1,700 business centres in 100 countries provides convenient, high-quality, fully serviced spaces for people to work, whether for a few minutes or a few years. Companies like Google, Toshiba and GlaxoSmithKline choose Regus so that they can work flexibly and make their businesses more successful.

The key to flexible working is convenience and so Regus is opening wherever its 1.5million members want support - city centres, suburban districts, shopping centres and retail outlets, railway stations,

motorway service stations and even community centres.

Founded in Brussels, Belgium, in 1989, Regus is based in Luxembourg and listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit:

www.regus.com