agent Entrepreneur logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Workplace Stress Taking Physical Toll On Business Owners

April 5, 2012
1 min to read


Three-quarters of small-business owners suffer from a work-related ailment, mostly stemming from stress, according to a new study from insurer Hiscox USA.


The poll, which surveyed over 1,000 businesses with up to 249 employees found that 25 percent felt stressed. Of contributing factors, 54 percent were worried about losing their business, 51 percent were stressed over losing clients and customers and 49 percent were worried about acquiring new business. In contrast, only 41 percent said they were concerned about their deteriorating health versus the concerns related to their businesses, according to The Huffington Post.

Ad Loading...


Of those with physical and mental symptoms, 33 percent reported fatigue, 32 percent had headaches, 30 percent suffered from back pain and 29 percent struggled with anxiety.


Despite some improvements in the economy, 43 percent said that they are more stressed today than they were 12 months ago, with 42 percent claiming they are facing the same business risks that they were dealing with a year ago.


That increased anxiety, however, isn't always rooted in problems, as nearly 30 percent of respondents said their stress was from a new surge in clients. Additionally, 69 percent of those surveyed are prepared to tackle business challenges and 57 percent expect their business to grow in the coming year.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Training

Businessman signing document with pen
Training•October 1, 2026

Turning Regulatory Pressure Into Profitable Performance

A compliance-first F&I Strategy for today's auto dealer is essential given recent enforcement actions on the state and federal level. Here’s how to help your dealer-clients establish it.

Read More →
Empty classroom with lecturn, chairs and video proejction screen
Training•by Rick McCormick•September 16, 2026

Major Shifts in F&I Training

General agents must help F&I managers rise to the occasion of the modern consumer, who has very different expectations in order to relax into trust.

Read More →
Photo of financial documents with a magnifying glass, calculator and pen on top
Training•by Hannah Mitchell•August 31, 2026

Be a Compliance Hero

Agents can steer their dealer clients toward proper advertising practices, including regular audits, to help keep them on the straight and narrow in a period of elevated regulation.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of man signing document with a blue pen
Training•by Gil Van Over•July 28, 2026

Leasing Is Picking Up. What About Disclosures?

Agents and dealers must ensure proper documentation of lease costs and funding and end the practice of wedging lease orders into buyer’s orders — or ignoring them.

Read More →
'CHANGES' spelled out in two-dimensional letters on a concrete-like surface
Training•by David R. Ibarra•July 8, 2026

Manage Change, or It Will Manage You

Two retail tales from the pandemic paint a stark contrast in the wise approach and the defensive move that will undercut success rather than build on it.

Read More →
Marble statue holding hands to face.
Training•by Justin B. Gasman•June 5, 2026

Train the Mind, Grow the Department

Agents who want to create real value must do more than bring coverage options. They must help dealers build stronger thinking, better habits and better results.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of a stack of folded newspapers on a table
Training•by Gil Van Over•May 7, 2026

Headlines Can Be Deceiving

Warning letters the FTC sent to dealers suspected of deceptive pricing have retailers and the agents who counsel them on edge. Read past the headlines to get and stay compliant.

Read More →
Photo of mechanic wiping his hands on a rag
Training•by Hannah Mitchell•March 12, 2026

Service Drive Satisfaction Up

Auto dealerships have a ways to go, though, on many basic points, along with some new consumer expectations that would boost their competitiveness if fulfilled.

Read More →
Photo of man's hand holding a pen above a piece of paper on a desk
Training•by Rick McCormick•March 11, 2026

Agents Bring the Message and the Focus

The most predictable profit in today's unpredictable automotive retail market is a dealership’s finance-and-insurance department.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Training•February 19, 2026

Policy Responses to Data Breaches

The recent 700Credit cyberattack is a wake-up call for agents and dealers. Review disclosures and tighten vendor oversight to maintain compliance and preserve customer trust.

Read More →
Ad Loading...