Office life has never been more stressful, with over half of the global workforce saying they are closer to burning out than they were just five years ago. Globally, the top triggers of workplace stress are lack of exercise, unreliable IT and feeling understaffed, according to a recent Regus report.
In mainland China, 34% of respondents found that lack of exercise and unhealthy eating are the biggest causes of stress – higher than the global average of 21%. However, in Hong Kong and Taiwan, respondents indicated that a lack of staff creates the most stress. Respondents from Singapore, Japan and the USA share the same view.
The research also reveals that almost a quarter of Hong Kong respondents feel that working to deadlines is very stressful, much more so than the global average of 14%, and the highest score in Greater China. In addition, 11% of Hong Kong respondents found that their colleagues are a significant cause of stress, which is more than double the global average and the highest in Greater China.
Moreover, Hong Kongers are the most pessimistic about the future. According to WIN/Gallup International’s End of Year Survey, Hong Kong is the only exception to Asia’s optimistic views on 2015, where 63% of Asian respondents were positive, as opposed to Hong Kong’s meagre 28%.