Few Employers Addressing Workplace Stress, Watson Wyatt Surveys Find

WASHINGTON, February 14, 2008 – Workplace stress is the most frequently
cited reason U.S. employees consider leaving their jobs. While employers
acknowledge that stress is affecting business performance, few are taking
steps to address it, according to two surveys by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a
leading global consulting firm.

Nearly half of U.S. employers (48 percent) say stress caused by working
long hours is affecting business performance. However, only 5 percent are
addressing this concern, according to Watson Wyatt’s 2007/2008 Staying[at]Work
report. Similarly, more than one-quarter (29 percent) of employers believe
stress caused by widespread use of technology such as cell phones and
personal digital assistants is greatly affecting business performance, but
only 6 percent are taking action to confront the issue.

“Many companies don't appear to appreciate how stress is affecting their
business,” said Shelly Wolff, national practice director of health and
productivity at Watson Wyatt. “Too much stress from heavy demands, poorly
defined priorities and little on-the-job flexibility can add to health
issues. By leaving stress unaddressed, employers invite an increase in
unscheduled time off, absence rates and health care costs — all of which
hurt a company’s bottom line.”

Employers Say Stress Affects Business Results

Cause of Employee Stress Employers That Say Stress
Affects Business Performance Employers Taking Strong Action
Long hours, doing more with less 48% 5%
Work/life balance 32% 16%
Technologies that expand availability 29% 6%
Manager’s inability to recognize stress 24% 7%
Manager’s inability to find solutions for stress 20% 14%
Extra time, hassles related to security 8% 2%
Safety fears 5% 27%

Source: Watson Wyatt/National Business Group on Health 2007/2008
Staying[at]Work report

One way stress is influencing business performance is through employee
retention. Stress is the most frequently cited reason U.S. workers give for
why they would leave a company. Forty percent of respondents say it is one
of their top three reasons, according to Watson Wyatt’s 2007/2008 Global
Strategic Rewards® report. However, employers fail to list stress among the
top five most cited reasons they think workers leave their jobs. Instead,
they cite insufficient pay, lack of career development and poor supervisor
relationships.

“Pay alone is not enough to retain and engage today’s workers,” said Laura
Sejen, global director of strategic rewards at Watson Wyatt. “To remain
competitive, companies need to understand fully what causes employees to
join or leave and what causes them to be productive if they stay. A total
rewards approach that includes both monetary and nonmonetary rewards is
more meaningful for employees and more effective for employers.”

More information on the reports can be found at
http://www.watsonwyatt.com/research/reports.asp.

About Watson Wyatt Worldwide

Watson Wyatt (NYSE, NASDAQ: WW) is the trusted business partner to the
world’s leading organizations on people and financial issues. The firm’s
global services include: managing the cost and effectiveness of employee
benefit programs; developing attraction, retention and reward strategies;
advising pension plan sponsors and other institutions on optimal investment
strategies; providing strategic and financial advice to insurance and
financial services companies; and delivering related technology,
outsourcing and data services. Watson Wyatt has 7,000 associates in 32
countries and is located on the Web at www.watsonwyatt.com.

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