Singapore's business owners are among the most stressed in the world

I am not the expressedly legal owner of this business but I really do not have the time to take holidays too, as the article below states. Down time (off peak) is meant for internal management projects and strategy meetings, so I can't do off peak either. Holidays are scandalous.


S'pore business owners among the most stressed in the world: survey
By Nur Azira Aziz, Channel NewsAsia



SINGAPORE : Singapore's business owners are among the most stressed in the world.

A recent international business survey puts them in sixth position after their counterparts in Taiwan, China, the Philippines, Botswana and Hong Kong.

The least stressed business people this year are found in Europe, in particular Sweden, and the US.

The last time businessman Peter Cheok took a holiday was two years ago.

He blames this on his hectic schedule but can't complain that better business is keeping him away from taking a break.

"Singaporean business owners tend to be more stressed nowadays, especially during peak seasons, because business is getting better. That means more work, hence you get busier. There are more stress involved when there's more work," said Peter Cheok, executive director of Far East Flora.

Many in Singapore will agree with Peter.

In an International Business Owners Survey, 67% of Singapore respondents say they are more stressed this year compared to last year.

And while business has been good, it also means they are not taking enough holidays.

The survey showed that Singapore business owners take fewer holidays than their overseas counterparts. Local business owners took 11 days off each year, compared to the global average of 16 days.

Business owners in France took the most holidays - 27 days a year, and Thai businessmen the fewest, at 4 days.

Experts say it is normal that businesses in Singapore get more demanding with the booming economy.

The real challenge lies in the future as the line between the workplace and the home gets increasingly blurred. Another challenge is how business owners juggle between work and rest.

"That driven-ness is here in our society. Like the way we've developed future business complexes like Biopolis, it blends work and the living space next to each other. We want to be working 24/7 in a way that is compatible with everyday life. I think there's a challenge there. But certainly, Singapore has that innate driven-ness and we want to find a balance with our lives," said Daniel J McAllister, associate professor at NUS Business School.

The survey covered some 7,000 business owners in 30 countries.

I do agree that we want to be working 24/7, that we are innately workaholic. The only thing that holds me back is sloth, and necessitated time with Calvin, because you see, the whole "hot job, hot lover, hot apartment" triad (cf. Emma Gold, Hard) is the visible sign of success to myself. Not to say that it is more important than the invisible, just that this is key too. We Singaporeans are just workaholic mad bastards.