Business leaders in India and Argentina work the longest hours, clocking up to 57 hours a week, according to a survey published yesterday, while Italians work the shortest week at 47 hours.A survey by London-based accounting firm Grant Thornton International also found that more business people in mainland China, Taiwan and India said they experienced more stress at work this year than in the previous year.
Increased pressure
"Globalisation and increasing technological advances have increased the pressure on business leaders to 'always be contactable'," said Kon Yin Tong, managing partner of Foo Kon Tan Grant Thornton, the Singapore unit of the group.
"The challenge for business leaders is how they can improve modern working practices to allow time to 'switch off' from the strains of increasingly demanding business lives while remaining competitive."
Grant Thornton said that with strong economic growth across Asia, more business people in the region reported an increase in stress levels.
The survey involved 7,200 respondents in 32 countries.
-Reuters
Top 10 countries with the longest workweek
| 1. | India | 57 |
2. | Argentina | 57 |
3. | Armenia | 56 |
4. | Australia | 56 |
5. | Botswana | 56 |
6. | Turkey | 55 |
7. | United States | 55 |
8. | South Africa | 55 |
9. | Singapore | 54 |
10. Hong Kong |
Top 10 countries where leaders reported higher stress levels
| 1. | China |
| 2. | Taiwan |
| 3. | India |
| 4. | Russia |
| 5. | Botswana |
| 6. | Singapore |
| 7. | Hong Kong |
| 8. | Malaysia |
| 9. | Philippines |
| 10. | South Africa
|
