economy
May 3, 2026
Anxiety and work stress, two current enemies of business leaders that end up costing dearly
Working more than 55 hours a week raises health risks. Photo: Courtesy - A.P.I.
TL;DR
- Mental health of business leaders is a consolidated corporate risk impacting productivity and sustainability.
- Psychosocial factors like chronic stress and pressure for results are now dominant labor risks for senior management.
- Working over 55 hours weekly increases the risk of stroke and heart disease.
- Depression and anxiety cause a global loss of 12 billion workdays annually, costing nearly $1 trillion in productivity.
- Over 70% of CEOs report clinically high stress levels, affecting decision-making and well-being.
- Women in leadership face additional structural pressures like inequality and underrepresentation, increasing their psychosocial burden.
- Managing psychosocial risk is becoming central to business continuity and performance.